Minister Petitions IG Over Marriage Plans For 100 Orphans.

Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has petitioned the

Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and sought a court injunction

to stop the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik

Sarkindaji, from marrying off 100 orphaned girls.

This is coming after the Speaker plans to marry off the orphaned girls, who

lost their parents due to banditry attacks in the Mariga local government

area as part of his constituency project on May 24, adding that, the gesture

was “aimed at alleviating the suffering of the impoverished”, pledging to pay

the dowries for the bridegrooms and procuring materials for the mass

marriage.

Kennedy-Ohanenye, while briefing newsmen in Abuja described the plans as

“unacceptable” while, a full-scale investigation has commenced on the issue.

The minister, while emphasizing the need to ensure girl-child education and

empowerment, said, the speaker did not think about empowering the

women or sending them to school or giving them some kind of training

support financially.

The minister also said, within the Child Rights Act, every child belongs to the

state, adding that, the rights of every child will be protected from harm,

violence or anything that will infringe on their rights.