Enugu Government Nullifies Teenage Marriage in Enugu Ezike, Arrests Groom, Parents, and Native Doctor Matchmaker

The Enugu State Government today, Thursday, November 27, 2025, made a clear statement on its commitment to protecting the rights of minors by announcing the nullification of an illegal underage marriage involving a teenage girl known as Amarachi in the Enugu Ezike area of the Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area.

The decisive action, disclosed by the Commissioner for Gender, Women and Children Affairs, Ngozi Eni, followed the viral circulation of reports about the marriage on social media, prompting immediate intervention by the state authorities.

The Commissioner’s office initially invited the families involved for questioning regarding the marriage, which violated the state’s Child Rights Law. Upon their failure to honor the invitation, the Ministry coordinated the arrest of the teenager’s parents, the groom, and the matchmaker, a native doctor identified as Mrs. Patience.

Forced Marriage and Health Risks

During questioning, the minor, Amarachi, confirmed that she had been forced into the marriage and disclosed that she had never had the opportunity to attend school. The Ministry’s statement quoted the groom’s mother as defending the illegal union on the grounds that her son was an only child, a justification the Ministry dismissed as inadequate for securing an underage girl as a wife.

The legal team from the Ministry emphasized the serious legal penalties associated with child marriage under the Enugu State Child Rights Law (2016), which prohibits marriage for persons under the age of 18. Officials stressed that such practices expose young girls to devastating consequences, including Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF), increased risk of cervical cancer, and severe psychological trauma.

The action serves as a strong deterrent, reinforcing the state government’s determination to eliminate harmful traditional practices and enforce its laws protecting the girl child from exploitation and abuse. The arrested individuals remain in custody pending further legal action.