Minors arrested in Bauchi over illegal marriage ceremony, N3,000 bride price
Authorities Arrest Minors in Illegal Marriage Ceremony in Bauchi State
Bauchi, Nigeria — Authorities in Bauchi State have detained a group of minors for allegedly organizing an illegal marriage ceremony, reportedly involving a bride price of 3,000 naira.
On Thursday, the suspects, including the alleged bride and groom, were presented to the Bauchi State Action Committee on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, led by Aisha Bala Mohammed, the wife of the state governor.
The arrests were executed by operatives from the Bauchi State Vigilante and Youth Empowerment Agency in collaboration with the Bauchi State Police Command. Additional arrests included attendees of the ceremony, an imam accused of officiating the marriage, and a young girl claimed to be the bride’s mother.
Mohammed Mohammed Bununu, the commander of Hisbah in Bauchi State, emphasized that the marriage arrangement was illegal, highlighting that the bride’s father denied any involvement in the event.
Bununu remarked that the state would not tolerate such practices and urged parents and guardians to uphold moral and religious values.
In her address, Aisha Bala Mohammed attributed the occurrence to factors such as poverty, parental negligence, and a decline in moral standards. She called upon parents to take a more active role in their children’s upbringing, ensuring they are guided by suitable religious and moral teachings.
The governor’s wife also suggested that inadequate family planning and early abandonment of children contribute to the issue.
