Mass wedding of orphan girls in Nigeria sparks outrage

Mass weddings are not uncommon in Nigeria, where brides wear red robes. Photo: KOLA SULAIMON/AFP

A mass wedding for 100 girls orphaned in attacks in Nigeria has sparked protest amid fears that some of the brides may be underage or forced into marriage for money.

< p>The ceremony, supported by a local politician, was condemned by the national minister for women's affairs, who threatened to ban the marriage.

Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, speaker of the local assembly in the northwestern state of Niger, said the wedding was intended to help voters who all lost relatives about attacks on villages by well-armed gangs.

Mr Sarkindaji has since distanced himself from the wedding and said the families should work it out among themselves, but local clerics said the wedding should still take place next week.

Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, Federal Minister Women's Affairs Committee, called the ceremony unacceptable and demanded to know the age of the brides and whether they had consented to the marriage.

She said: “I filed a police report… and filed a case for an injunction prohibiting him from everything, what he plans to do.”

“Let children be children”

Abiodun Essiet, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Engagement, also objects.

She said: “I am not against marriage for orphans over 18 years of age as long as they give their consent to the marriage.”

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“But I am against underage marriages. Let children be children.”

Mass weddings are not uncommon in Nigeria, especially in the predominantly Muslim north, where they are seen as a way to help poor families manage their expenses.

However, underage marriages do occur. in rural areas where communities struggle with poverty, insecurity and limited access to education.

Information on the ages of the orphans is not yet available.

All wedding expenses paid

In January this year, Muktar Aliyu Bethara, another Nigerian politician from Borno State, sponsored a mass wedding of 180 girls from his constituency.

17- and 18-year-old girls lost their parents to jihadists. violence.

Mr. Betara paid all wedding expenses because the brides' families could not afford these expenses.