The Niger Speaker's controversial plan to marry off 100 female orphans has sparked nationwide outrage, with Nigerians criticizing the potential exploitation of minors and questioning the prioritization of mass marriages over education and empowerment.
Controversy has erupted after the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, announced plans to sponsor the weddings of 100 female orphans. "The marriage of 100 female orphans will go on as planned," he declared, sparking outrage and bewilderment across Nigeria.
Sarkindaji's proposed mass marriage initiative has drawn intense criticism from Nigerians on social media. Many questioned how arranging marriages, potentially for minors, could be considered a priority over educating and empowering orphaned girls.
"Someone should explain to me like I'm 10 years old, how this differs from child trafficking," one Twitter user remarked. Others lambasted the idea as distasteful and archaic, with some accusing Sarkindaji of promoting pedophilia through rhetorical language.
Calls grew for authorities like the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to intervene. Nigerian feminists were urged to take a stand against the proposed mass marriages, seen by many as an affront to women's rights.
As outrage persists, some urged cautiousness in passing judgment until Sarkindaji's true intentions are clarified. But for many Nigerians, his remarks have already crossed an unacceptable line, regardless of the justification. The ongoing furor underscores society's grave misgivings about the intersection of cultural traditions and the rights of the child.
