Follow Us on Google
From Abdulrazaq Mungadi, Gombe
The Gombe state government has mobilized a legal team to defend a 14-year-old female indigene facing court action for fleeing a forced marriage in Taraba State.
The minor, whose identity remains confidential, reportedly escaped from a rural community in Taraba State where she was married off to a man allegedly more than three times her age. According to the state’s Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development, Asmau Mohammed Iganus, the girl’s escape from Taraba to seek refuge with some relatives in Gombe and refusal to go back prompted the husband to initiate legal action against her.
Addressing newsmen on Friday in Gombe, the commissioner disclosed that the state government has concluded preparations to provide legal representation and psychosocial support for the minor in her home state.
While stating the state’s Ministry of Justice has assigned a lawyer for the case, Iganus said, ‘The Gombe state government is standing firm against all forms of child rights violations, including forced and underage marriages, rape, and all Gender Based Violence (GBV). We have mobilized a legal team to ensure that this child is protected and allowed to study because that is what she said she wants, and we have the Child Rights Law that protects children from all forms of violence and abuse.
“The man who already has two wives before marrying the child as third wife, used to invite some people into the room to help him tie her up on the bed and rape her without her consent, you can see the scars on her both wrists. We will not allow that to continue, we are committed to safeguarding the rights of our citizens, especially minors subjected to abuse anywhere”.
“So, we are going to Taraba to defend her and ensure that the girl is protected by challenge any proceedings that violate her rights and I believe even the Taraba state government will support us in the fight”.
Other News
Narrating her ordeal, the girl told Daily Sun that her misery started when she was taken from Gombe to visit her mother and grandfather who were living and farming with her father in Taraba state. She said, “Barely one month after I got there, my grandfather connived with my parents and arraigned the marriage against my will.
“I stayed with the man for about two months, during the early days of the marriage he faces a lot of resistance from me, he then started beating me and tying me down on the bed before raping me, sometimes he will call some people to help him hold my hands and tie me. When I finally saw an opportunity to run after some months, I ran away to live with my brother and uncle here in Gombe.
He sent some people to come and take me back, but I and my relatives here refused after trying severally he then decided to go to court. The court send the summons to brother,” the 14 year old graduate of primary school told Daily Sun.
She appreciated the Gombe state government for intervening and coming to her rescue. She said, “the government has supported me and my relatives with foodstuffs, sleeping material, and other interventions, including money, and they have promised to support me to continue my education which was stopped after primary school.”
The incident has reignited discussions about the prevalence of child and forced marriages and other GBV in Gombe. Advocacy groups have long called for the full implementation and enforcement of the Child Rights Act and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP) already domesticated in the state to combat such practices.
