The Enugu State Government has nullified the marriage of an underaged girl, Amarachi, to an adult man in Amufie community, Enugu Ezike, Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area.
The wedding, which had recently circulated on social media through videos and photos, sparked widespread public outrage.
The Commissioner for Gender, Women and Children Affairs, Ngozi Eni, confirmed on Thursday, November 27, that the state intervened immediately to halt the “illegal and harmful union,” which officials verified had already been consummated. The ministry initially invited the families involved for questioning to understand why a child was given out in marriage despite the severe psychological, health, and legal risks, including cervical cancer and other complications associated with early marriage. When the families failed to appear, the ministry facilitated their arrest.
Those taken into custody include Amarachi’s parents, the groom and his parents, and the matchmaker, Mrs. Patience, a native doctor who claimed she was unaware that arranging a child marriage was illegal. During private discussions with officials, Amarachi revealed she had been forced into the marriage and had never attended school. The groom’s mother admitted she sought a wife for her only son but provided no justification for choosing an underage girl.
The ministry’s legal team briefed all parties on the Child Rights Law and penalties for child marriage, while officials educated them on gender-based violence and medical risks associated with early marriage, including vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) and cervical cancer. The authorities have handed the suspects over to security agencies for further investigation. Amarachi and a two-year-old child—whose mother is yet to be identified—are now under the care of the ministry’s Head of Child Unit.
Commissioner Eni reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring Amarachi receives proper education and rehabilitation. She also expressed gratitude to the Igbo-Eze North Local Government Chairman, the constituency’s House of Assembly member, and the Chairman of the Enugu State Civil Service Commission for their prompt intervention.
