Northern Christians under the umbrella of Northern States Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), have condemned the increasing cases of abduction and forceful marriage of under aged girls in the region.
This comes in the wake of the abduction of Ese Oruru allegedly by one Yinusa in Bayelsa State.
They warned traditional rulers and religious leaders in the region not to encourage forceful marriage of innocent underage girls against their wish, noting that such practice is a violation of the constitutional rights of the girls and the Nigerian laws.
The newly elected chairman of the association, Reverend Yakubu Pam, at a news conference shortly the election of new executive members of the Christian body in Kaduna, raised alarm that more than 1,000 teenage girls in the north have been subjected into forced marriage and converted to another religion against their wish, noting that Ese’s case is one out of numerous of such cases in the region.
The association challenged the traditional and religious leaders to lead campaigns against underage forced marriages, noting that such practices have a disastrous impact on the education, health and emotional wellbeing of the girls.
Rather than forcing the girls into early marriage, the new CAN Chairman called on the traditional rulers and government in the region to send the young girls to school to enable them secure a better future.
He also called on security agencies to be proactive in such cases and ensure that perpetrators of such crime against humanity are brought to justice.
On Nigeria joining the Arab nations in the fight against terrorism, the Christian Body urged the federal government to come out clean and explain to Nigerians the modalities involved in the coalition, and to ensure that their lives and property are guaranteed.
0 comments:
Post a Comment