Photos: Enugu Government Nullifies Underage Marriage, Arrests Parents, Groom, and Matchmaker

The Enugu State Government has nullified the marriage of an underage girl, Amarachi, to an adult man following widespread outrage after videos and photos of the ceremony in Amufie community, Enugu Ezike, surfaced on social media.

Commissioner for Gender, Women and Children Affairs, Ngozi Eni, confirmed that state officials acted immediately to halt the illegal union, which had reportedly already been consummated. The ministry initially invited the families for questioning to understand why a child had been married off, citing serious psychological, health, and legal risks, including cervical cancer and other complications linked to early marriage. When the families failed to respond, authorities facilitated their arrest.

Those taken into custody include Amarachi’s parents, the groom and his parents, and the matchmaker, identified as Mrs. Patience, a native doctor who claimed she did not know arranging a child marriage was illegal. During discussions with ministry officials, Amarachi said she had been forced into the marriage and had never attended school. The groom’s mother admitted she wanted a wife for her only son but offered no justification for choosing an underage girl.

The ministry’s legal team briefed all parties on the Child Rights Law and the penalties for child marriage, while also educating them on gender-based violence and medical risks such as vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) and cervical cancer. The suspects have been handed over to security agencies for further investigation.

Amarachi and a two-year-old child, whose mother is yet to be identified, are now under the care of the ministry’s Head of Child Unit. Commissioner Eni reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring Amarachi receives proper education and rehabilitation and thanked local officials for their prompt intervention in the matter.

Photos ….