Controversy arises as religious leaders in Niger State push ahead with a mass wedding for 100 orphaned girls, despite objections from the Minister of Women Affairs. Claiming adherence to Islamic teachings, the leaders challenge government intervention, sparking a debate over underage marriage and religious rights in the region.
In Niger State, a contentious issue has arisen surrounding the planned marriage of 100 banditry-induced orphaned girls, with the Director-General of the Niger State Bureau for Religious Affairs and secretary of the state Imam Forum, Dr. Umar Farouk, issuing a stern ultimatum to the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Ohanneya Kennedy.
The minister's call to halt the mass wedding, citing concerns over the underage status of the girls and advocating for their education over marriage, has been met with strong opposition from the imams, who argue that the minister's stance contradicts Islamic teachings.
Farouk, speaking at a press conference in Minna, defended the planned wedding as permissible in Islam and urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to dismiss the minister for allegedly overstepping her boundaries and incompetence.
The imams reaffirmed their support for the marriage, asserting that the speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarikindaji, acted within the confines of Islamic principles. Farouk further called upon affluent individuals in the state to emulate Sarikindaji's support for youth marriage as a means to mitigate societal immorality.
As tensions escalate and religious and ethical considerations clash, the dispute underscores broader discussions about the rights of vulnerable individuals, the intersection of religious practices with state policies, and the role of government officials in upholding constitutional principles.
