Bayelsa Government Summons Parents Of 4-Year-Old Bride And 54-Year-Old Groom

Bayelsa Government Summons Parents Of 4-Year-Old Bride And 54-Year-Old Groom....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The Bayelsa Government has extended an invitation to the parents of a four-year-old girl and a 54-year-old man allegedly engaged in a marriage ceremony in the Akeddei community, situated in the Sagbama Local Government Area of the state…..CONTINUE READING

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This move by the government follows media reports of a marriage that took place on December 26 between the young ‘bride’ and a 54-year-old man. The government’s response was conveyed through a statement provided to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa on Saturday. The statement, jointly signed by Dr. Dise Ogbise-Goddy, Chairman of the Gender Response Initiative Team (GRIT) in Bayelsa, and Mr. Paniebi Jacob, Director of Child Development in the Ministry of Women Affairs, Children, and Social Development, expressed disapproval of the development.

The government expressed concern about the “illegal marriage” based on tradition and customs, deeming it contrary to natural justice, equity, and good conscience. The Ministry of Women, Children Affairs and Social Development, in collaboration with GRIT, acknowledged the receipt of a formal complaint from the child rights advocacy group DO Foundation regarding the controversial marriage.

In response to the complaint, the traditional ruler of the Akeddei community has honored the government’s invitation, committing to produce the child, her parents, the groom, the youth leader, and the chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC).

The government clarified its stance on child marriage, emphasizing that it does not support such practices under any circumstances. It highlighted the Bayelsa State Child Rights Law, emphasizing that steps would be taken to rescue the child from the key actors involved in what was termed a ‘mere spiritual’ affair.

The government, in collaboration with the Bayelsa State Police Command, pledged to prevent incidents like this from occurring in the state in the future. The statement expressed gratitude to non-governmental organizations, including FIDA and DO Foundation, for their intervention in rescuing the innocent child. The government asserted its commitment to being children-friendly, ensuring the case would be pursued to a logical conclusion.

However, it was learned that the alleged marriage, involving a man identified as Elder Akpos, was initiated by the girl’s parents. According to an anonymous source within the community, the parents claimed that the 54-year-old man was the girl’s husband in their previous life. The source revealed that the toddler narrated her experiences of moving from place to place, being born to different parents in search of her former husband. In an effort to prevent the girl from facing death, the community decided to organize a grand wedding ceremony, marking the union of the two supposed previous life lovers.

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