Nigeria: Cross River Silent As Ebonyi Moves to Tackle Child Marriage After Premium Times Investigation
[Premium Times] In March, PREMIUM TIMES published a two-part investigation which documented endemic child marriage incidence in Ebonyi and another thriving illegal customary practice in Cross River State called money marriage.
In March, PREMIUM TIMES published a two-part investigation that documented endemic child marriage incidence in Ebonyi State, particularly in Izzi and Ebonyi Local Government Areas. The investigation also uncovered a cruel customary practice called money marriage in Becheve, a community in Obanliku Local Government Area of Cross River State.
Money marriage involves underage girls and those yet to be born being sold into marriage in exchange for money or other items to settle parents' debts. The investigation established that taking women as money wives is a source of pride and social status for men in the Becheve community. When initially confronted with the investigation findings, the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Felicia Nwamkpuma, referred reporters to the Department of Child Development for an official response.
However, Ebonyi State's Department of Child Development head, Emmanuel Nkwuba, confirmed that the state commissioner ordered an aggressive intensified campaign against child marriage after receiving information about the PREMIUM TIMES investigation. Nkwuba stated that the commissioner followed up on the investigation to stop the practice.
Nkwuba also revealed that the ministry planned to hold a grand finale of the campaign on September 2 in Abakaliki Township Stadium, inviting people from all walks of life to speak to Ebonyi women about the issue.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
