The Police in Jigawa State have arrested a 30-year-old man for allegedly killing his underaged wife days after their marriage.
According to the Spokesman of the command, SP Abdu Jinjiri, the incident happened in Dutse on the 21/4/2020 at about 0800hrs at Kankarelu village in Ringim Local Government Area.
He explained that one Hansa’u Audu, 17-year-old, a wife to one Alasan Audu, 30, of the same address was found dead in her matrimonial room twenty days after their wedding.
Jinjiri said the Police removed the corpse and took it to the hospital where it was confirmed dead by a medical doctor.
He said investigation revealed that the suspect was not the one the deceased prepared to get married.
Jinjiri said after interrogation, the suspect confessed committing the crime.
“At about 0400hrs, I went to her (the deceased) as a husband, but she turned my request down.
“I then used force on her to satisfy my sexual desire.”
Police spokesman said the case was still under investigation and will be taken to court for prosecution.
Child Marriage in Nigeria
The Nigerian Constitution does not establish a minimum age of marriage. The Child Rights Act , which was passed in 2003, sets the age of marriage at 18 years-old. However, only 23 states of the 36 Nigeria states have begun to take steps to implement the minimum age of marriage.
According to UNICEF, Nigeria has the third highest absolute number of child brides in the world – 3,538,000 – and the 11th highest prevalence rate of child marriage globally.
44% of girls in Nigeria are married before their 18th birthday and 18% are married before the age of 15.
Child marriage is most common in the North West and North East of Nigeria, where 68% and 57% of women aged 20-49 were married before their 18th birthday. Child marriage is particularly common among Nigeria’s poorest, rural households and the Hausa ethnic group.
