Minister Petitions IG over Marriage Plans for 100 Orphan Girls in Niger

The 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.
The Speaker recently announced 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, stating that the gesture was “aimed at alleviating the suffering of the impoverished”.
He pledged to pay the dowries for the bridegrooms and procuring materials for the mass marriage, however Kennedy-Ohanenye, while briefing newsmen in Abuja described the plans as “unacceptable” emphasising that a full-scale investigation has commenced on the issue.
She emphasised that within the Child Rights Act, every child belongs to the state, hence the rights of every child will be protected from harm, violence or anything that will infringe on their rights and assured that the ministry will up the matter and educate the children.