A child rights advocacy group in Bayelsa, the DO Foundation, strongly opposed the traditional marriage that took place on December 26 between a four-year-old girl and a 54-year-old man in Akeddei community, Sagbama Local Government Area of the state. In a statement issued by the foundation’s chairperson, Mr. Elvis Mannie, the marriage was deemed illegal, criminal, and a violation of both the constitution and the Child Rights Act.
The DO Foundation condemned child marriage as a horrendous, despicable, and criminal activity, expressing concerns that such actions could undermine the progress made by the government and people of Bayelsa in protecting child rights. It highlighted that the Child’s Right Law, which criminalizes child marriages and betrothals, is still in force in Bayelsa, having been domesticated in 2016 with stipulated terms of imprisonment and heavy fines.
The advocacy group called on the state government, the Gender Response Initiative Team, and all stakeholders in the gender response system to take immediate action in response to the incident. It urged security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation to protect the child from sexual exploitation and demanded the arrest and prosecution of those found culpable.
The DO Foundation initiated its investigation to intervene and rescue the child from the distressing situation. Reports indicated that the marriage was orchestrated by the girl’s parents, and the child herself expressed a preference for the union, stating that she would have no other business in Akeddei community if not allowed to marry her husband. In an attempt to prevent a tragic outcome, the community organized a lavish wedding ceremony to formalize the union.
