Authorities in Bauchi State have arrested a group of minors accused of organising an illegal marriage ceremony involving a bride price of just N3,000.
The incident has sparked concern among residents and child protection advocates after the suspects, including the alleged bride and groom, were presented before the Bauchi State Action Committee on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.
The committee is chaired by the wife of the state governor, Aisha Bala Mohammed.
The arrests were carried out by operatives of the Bauchi State Vigilante and Youth Empowerment Agency working alongside officers of the Bauchi State Police Command.
Also taken into custody were several individuals said to have attended the ceremony, including a man accused of conducting the marriage as an imam and an underage girl alleged to have acted as the bride’s mother during the process.
Officials described the marriage arrangement as unlawful, stressing that the supposed bride’s father reportedly denied having any knowledge of the event.
Speaking on the development, the Commander of Hisbah in Bauchi State, Mohammed Mohammed Bununu, condemned the incident and warned that authorities would not tolerate illegal or underage marriages.
He urged parents and guardians to take responsibility for the moral and religious upbringing of their children, adding that families must remain vigilant against practices capable of endangering minors.
Reacting to the case, the governor’s wife, Aisha Bala Mohammed, blamed the incident on growing poverty, parental negligence and what she described as declining moral standards within society.
She stressed the need for stronger family supervision and proper religious guidance to protect children from harmful practices and exploitation.
According to her, poor family planning and the abandonment of children at an early age have contributed significantly to rising social problems involving minors.
The development has renewed conversations around child welfare, underage marriage and parental responsibility in northern Nigeria, where advocacy groups continue to campaign for stronger protection of children’s rights.
Authorities have not yet disclosed whether formal charges will be filed against the suspects as investigations continue.
