The Bayelsa State Government has reacted in the case of a 4-year-old girl and a 54-year-old man who were allegedly involved in a marriage in the Akeddei community in Sagbama Local Government Area of the state.
The government’s reaction was contained in a statement jointly signed by Dr Dise Ogbise-Goddy, chairman of the Gender Response Initiative Team (GRIT) Bayelsa, and Paniebi Jacob, Director of Child Development in the Ministry of Women Affairs, children, and Social Development.
The statement described the union as an “illegal marriage” based on tradition and customs, saying it was repugnant to natural justice, equity, and good conscience.
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The Ministry of Women, Children Affairs, and Social Development and GRIT have acknowledged the receipt of a formal complaint from a child rights advocacy group, the DO Foundation, on the controversial marriage.
The statement also summoned the traditional ruler of the Akeddei community who honoured the government’s invitation and promised to produce the child, her parents, the groom, the youth leader, and the chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC).
According to the statement, the Bayelsa Government does not support child marriage under any guise.
It read:
“That is why the state government did not hesitate to assent to the passage of the Bayelsa State Child Rights Law.
“We are taking steps to rescue the child from all the key actors in relation to this illegal ceremony that they tagged a ‘mere spiritual’ affair.
“The law is clear on issues of tradition and customs that are repugnant to natural justice, equity, and a good conscience, and working with the Bayelsa State Police Command, we shall ensure incidents like this do not occur in the state again.
“On behalf of the governor of Bayelsa State, we express our gratitude to all the non-governmental organisations, including FIDA and DO Foundation, that have risen to the rescue of this innocent child.
“Bayelsa State is children-friendly, and this case will be pursued to a logical conclusion.”
The alleged marriage involving the man, identified as Elder Akpos, was at the instance of the girl’s parents.
According to a source (name withheld), the parents of the girl claimed that Akpos was her husband in their previous lives.
The girl also attested that the man was her husband, who died mysteriously in their previous lives.
The source said:
“The little bride said if she were not allowed to marry her husband, she would have no other business in Akeddei community, and that she was going to die peacefully and go her way.
“To avoid losing the girl to death, the people of Akeddei decided to organise a glamorous wedding ceremony to mark the union of the two previous life lovers.”
The Bayelsa government’s intervention is coming on the heels of media reports of a December 26 marriage between the 4-year-old ‘bride’ and the 54-year-old.
