An individual named Uzochukwu Okoli has been taken into custody by the Anambra State Government for arranging a marriage for his underage daughter.
The arrest of Okoli came after his daughter reported the mistreatment she was enduring from both her father and the man she was forced to marry to the state Ministry of Women and Social Welfare.
This information was revealed in a statement provided by Chidimma Ikeanyionwu, who serves as the Media Aide to the state Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, on Thursday.
The girl, known as Chioma and currently 16 years old, informed the ministry that following the death of their mother, her father brought her back from Edo State where they were attending school to give her hand in marriage.
According to the statement, “She claimed that she was initially compelled to live with a 70-year-old man when she was 14, but she ran back to her father’s place before he eventually married her off to a 34-year-old man named Chinedu N.”
“Chioma, along with her older sister, described her life with the husband as a ‘living nightmare’ due to physical abuse and disturbing acts, such as being urinated on after beatings, prompting her to flee with her nine-month-old child.
“Her father, Uzochukwu Okoli, has conflicting statements about her age, claiming she is 18 years old at one point and 20 at another.
“When he was apprehended, Okoli threatened to retaliate against his daughters if he ever gets out of prison. He even went as far as wishing for his demise in prison because of the hardships he’ll impose on them.”
Responding to the situation, Obinabo directed that the matter be taken to court to ensure justice for the children.
She took the opportunity to advise parents to guide their children appropriately instead of compelling them into premature marriages that could ruin their lives.
Both Okoli and Chinedu N have been arrested and are scheduled to appear in court.