12-year-old girl married off to 50-year-old man in Benue as third wife rescued

The officials of National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP) has rescued a 12-year-old-girl who was married off to a 50-year-old man in Adaka area of Makurdi, Benue State capital.

Persecondnews gathered that the girl’s family deceived her that she would attend school in Makurdi, but instead married her off to a 50-year-old farmer who has children above 20 years old, as a third wife.

The rescue of the minor followed the alarm raised by one Lucky Udu on Facebook, and a follow-up by Benue State human rights activist, Ukan Kurugh, which attracted the attention of the NAPTIP officials in Makurdi.

According to Iduh, the man beats the girl every night and forces himself on her but has only succeeded once in sleeping with her.

“When she discovered that she was brought to the man’s house as his third wife, the girl started raising alarm and seeking for help to escape from the house.

“That was what attracted the attention of neighbours who started asking for help for the girl,” he said.

Confirming the rescue of the minor, the NAPTIP Commander, Makurdi Zonal Command, Mrs. Gloria Bai, said preliminary investigation revealed that she had been in the forced and abusive marriage for about three months.

She assured that efforts were on to arrest the man who had fled his home.

“Our officers are already on surveillance to get the man as soon as he is seen.

“The girl will also be taken to the hospital for medical examination and she will undergo proper counseling.

“We will see how she came to be in his house and if he has contravened the law, we will  charge him to court,” she said.