The Enugu State Government has confirmed the arrest and detention of the parents of a teenage bride, the groom and his parents, as well as a matchmaker, over the controversial marriage of a 13-year-old girl named Amarachi in Amufie community, Enugu Ezike, Igbo-Eze North LGA.
According to the Commissioner for Gender, Women and Children Affairs, Hon. Ngozi Eni, the arrests became necessary after all the parties involved failed to honour an invitation from the ministry following viral videos showing the unlawful marriage.
Eni explained that the government had to take action when it was established that the marriage—already carried out—was forced on a minor who neither understood nor consented to it.
“We invited them to the ministry to explain why a child was given out in marriage, but they refused to come. Their refusal showed complicity, so we ordered their arrest,” she said.
Those taken into custody include the groom’s parents as well as a native doctor, Mrs Patience, who arranged the union. The matchmaker reportedly claimed she was unaware that marrying off a child was against the law.
Amarachi, now under government protection, told officials she was compelled into the marriage and had never attended school. The groom’s mother allegedly defended the marriage because her son is an only child, but could not justify the act after the ministry explained the illegality of child marriage.
Eni said the ministry’s legal team sensitised the detained individuals on the Child Rights Law and the penalties for violating it. Senior officials also educated them on gender-based violence and the severe health risks associated with marrying off young girls, such as VVF, cervical cancer and long-term psychological harm.
The commissioner confirmed that all suspects have been transferred to security agencies for further investigation. Amarachi and a two-year-old child found during the operation—whose mother has not yet been identified—were taken into protective care.
She assured that Amarachi would be rehabilitated, placed in school and that the unlawful marriage would be officially invalidated.
Eni also commended the swift collaboration of the Chairman of Igbo-Eze North LGA, Hon. Ogalla, the constituency’s House of Assembly member, and the Chairman of the Enugu State Civil Service Commission, which made the intervention successful.
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