The officials of National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons, NAPTIP, have rescued a 12-year-old-girl who was allegedly forced into marrying a supposed 50 years old man in the Adaka area of Makurdi town under the disguise that she will be well taken care of and sent to school.
The NAPTIP got a hold of the situation due to an alarm raised by one Lucky Iduh on Tuesday and a follow up by Makurdi based humanist, Ukan Kurugh.
“But when she discovered that she was brought to the man’s house as his third wife, the girl starting 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,” Ukan 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 marriage for about three months and the man had been abusing her, she noted that efforts were on to arrest the man who had fled his home.
While assuring that the matter would be thoroughly invested Mrs. Bai said “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.”
