NHRC Reports Over 3,000 Cases of Child Marriage in Three Months

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has reported a staggering 3,099 cases of child marriage across Nigeria from June to September 2024. The data indicates that the highest number of cases occurred in June, with 1,345 reports, followed by July with 884 cases, and September with 870 cases. However, there were no records for the month of August.

Child marriage remains a significant issue, particularly in Nigeria’s northern region, where many incidents have been linked to the ongoing violence from bandits and terrorists. This trend has led to the alarming practice of marrying off young girls whose parents have been killed in these attacks.

One notable incident involves Abdul Malik Zubairu, a lawmaker from the Maru/Bungudu Federal Constituency in Zamfara State. In July 2024, he facilitated the marriages of 105 orphans whose parents were victims of bandit attacks. Zubairu provided beds, bedding materials, and a total of N10.5 million in dowries for the brides. Additionally, he gave each groom N100,000 and each bride N50,000 to help them start their own businesses.

The issue of child marriage is not new in Nigeria, but recent reports highlight its escalation, especially among vulnerable groups. In May 2024, a planned mass wedding for 100 orphaned girls in the Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State faced opposition from Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, the former Minister of Women Affairs. Her intervention underscored the growing concern over the safety and rights of young girls in the face of such practices.

Gerald Katchy, the National General Secretary of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, expressed his deep concern about the persistence of child marriage, especially in northern Nigeria. He attributed this issue to the failure of many states to adopt the Child Rights Act. “There are many victims of child marriage,” Katchy stated. “This issue persists largely because many northern states have not domesticated the Child Rights Act. If they had, they might view the issue differently, considering the conflicts between the Act and their interpretations of Sharia law.”

Katchy pointed out that Sharia law allows for marriage under the age of 16, which contradicts the provisions of the Child Rights Act that prohibits such practices. He argued that this clash of laws contributes to the reluctance of some states to implement the Child Rights Act fully.

He emphasized the importance of aligning local laws with the Nigerian Constitution, stating, “No law is superior to Nigeria’s Constitution. There needs to be more awareness, especially in local languages. The National Assembly could amend laws to enforce stricter penalties, such as stripping local chiefs or monarchs of their titles if child marriage rates remain high in their jurisdictions.”