Stefanos Foundation, Christian Association of Nigeria, Kaduna State Chapter and some parents have appealed to the Federal Government to protect and emancipate underage girls that were forced into marriage in Kaduna.
They made the appeal at a news conference organised by Stefanos Foundation on Tuesday in Abuja.
Mr Abraham Hassan, the Director of Administration at the Foundation, said underage marriage remained a global issue clogging development in many countries.
According to him, as at Feb. 2024, Nigeria was ranked third among countries with the highest incidence of underage marriage.
Hassan added that the recent underage marriage of the girlchild in Nigeria is at 30.3 per cent, while that of the boychild is 1.6 per cent.
“On May 12, the Foundation received a report from Ungwan Sarkin Hausawa Village of Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State, about a 16 year-old girl, who hails from a Christian family.
“We gathered that she was abducted, taken to Katsina State and thereafter brought back to Kaduna to be married out to a Muslim man, Malam Jamilu Lawan without the consent of her parents.
“These and many similar incidences had occurred and are still happening in the northern part of the country,
“The continuous abuse, abduction, molestation, forceful conversion and marrying of adolescent Christian girls in the northern part of the country is appalling.
“We call upon the Federal Government, security agencies and law enforcement agencies to ensure the protection and emancipation of young Chrtistain girls in Northern Nigeria,” Hassan appealed.
He further stressed that, the liberty that guaranteed rights of the girls would promote gender inclusivity, education and consequently bringing about sane Nigeria.
“We also desire the nedd to investigate and unmask whoever that is behind the abduction of the 16 year-old girl that was married to Lawan.
Similarly, the CAN Chairman, Kaduna State Chapter, Reverend Caleb Ma’aji represented by Rev Bulus Dago said Nigeria is a multi ethic and religious country.
Ma’aji, however, alleged that the Christians in the North Region of the country are experiencing a great deal of threat to life and other forms of abuse.
“The cornerstone of religious freedom in Nigeria lies in Section 38 of the 1999 constitution as amended.
“Also, Part III Section 21 and 22 of The Child Rights Act prohibits both the marriage of those considered to be children and the betrothal of children.
“The menace of forceful marriages, adoption and conversation of our young girls is real and on the rise without any regards to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We now have a good leader in the state in the person of Gov. Uba Sani. He listens to the yearning of the people and working assiduously to ensure that there is religious tolerance in Kaduna State.
“The Christian leadership in Kaduna State stands for peace and harmony, and call on those who are bent on causing havoc in the state to desist from unlawful act,” Ma’aji said.
In his narration, the uncle of the 16 year-old girl, Mr Jonathan Yahaya, said the girl woke up around 5am on April 13 to ease herself and never returned.
“Prior to the incident, we had been seeing Jamilu Lawan with her and forbade the relationship.
“After investigation, it was discovered that our daughter was taken to Katsina State and later brought back to Kaduna and was married to Lawal without our consent.
“We want the government and international organisations to please, help to get our daughter back. We also want the National Assembly to come up with laws to address such infringement.
“We also want the perpetrators of abductions, forceful marriages and conversation to be brought to book,” Yahaya prayed.
The mother of the girl, Mrs Rahila Musa, a widow, also called for prayers and support to ensure the release of her 16 year-old daughter.
By NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA