Abysmal Child Marriages Must Be Stopped In Southwest Yorubaland Nigeria

Our Reporter

Girl child been forced into marriage is the worst form of violence against her existence. Despite the claimed level of exposure and civilization, girl child been forced into marriage still goes on in several communities in Lagos and other part of Nigeria without a challenge. It deprives the child so much in life and reinforced the cycle of inter-generational poverty.

History has it that some towns in Yoruba land, especially in the South West region, and when South West is been mentioned, we are simply referring to Ibadan in ancient city of Oyo State and Lagos State of Nigeria still indulge in this practice.

This sacred institution has been desecrated, to the extent that some girls were forced into early marriages intermittently.

That is the case of a young lady name (withheld), according to a reliable source who briefed our reporter says, the father whom someone could easily refer to as a wicked and greedy man married his daughter out at a tender age of 10 without the knowledge of her mother.

Saying further, out of her father’s greediness and been faster than his shadows also thought within himself, that the best way parents would have quickly reap the fruit of their hard labour is by giving out his little girl in early marriage and to collect the bride price from his aged friend a 56 – year- old man.

Entering into an agreement which an average Yoruba man would classify as an oath, because a promise was said to have been made in which he actually assured his 56- year – old friend that when his daughter turns 25 year old the marriage will be properly formalized for the betterment of both families.

According to our source, the young lady came home from school during an holiday break to meet people at her house not knowing that it was her wedding that was been held, she was devastated as she had no place to run to. Her mother could not stop her because of the oath her father had taken.

This young lady finally got married to her father’s friend and after a month, the news came in that she had committed suicide by poisoning herself.

This scenario where the rules of relationship and marriage are relegated to the background is unacceptable, disheartening, which Nigerian Government as a matter of urgency must look into at least for the sake of those teenage girls who might also fall victim, as this ugly situation has to be stopped.