The Ebonyi State Government has launched an intensified campaign against child marriage across the state following an investigative report by PREMIUM TIMES that exposed the widespread practice in parts of the state.
The state government’s renewed effort is aimed at discouraging the marriage of underage girls, encouraging communities to report cases and mobilising women to speak out against the practice.
A two-part investigation published in March documented the prevalence of child marriage in Ebonyi State, particularly in Izzi and Ebonyi Local Government Areas.
The investigation also uncovered a separate traditional practice known as “money marriage” in Becheve community, Obanliku Local Government Area of Cross River State, where underage girls and, in some cases, unborn children are reportedly exchanged for money, goats, food items or other valuables to settle family debts.
The practice has reportedly become associated with social recognition and status among some men in the Becheve community.
Emmanuel Nkwuba, head of the Department of Child Development in the Ebonyi State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, said the ministry intensified its campaign after being briefed on the findings of the premium times investigation.
According to Nkwuba, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Felicia Nwamkpuma, directed the ministry to step up awareness campaigns against child marriage across Ebonyi State.
He explained that the campaign was further expanded in August to include women’s meetings, where participants were encouraged to resist and report attempts to force underage girls into marriage.
Nkwuba, who is from Izzi Local Government Area, one of the areas identified as having a high incidence of child marriage, said women were also warned against facilitating or supporting the practice.
He said the ministry has taken the campaign to all 13 local government areas in Ebonyi State.
“We are organising the grand finale of the programme on Wednesday, 2 September,” Nkwuba said, adding that the event would take place at the Abakaliki Township Stadium.
According to him, stakeholders from different sectors have been invited to address women and other members of the public on the dangers and illegality of child marriage.
Nkwuba also explained why prosecuting men married to underage girls has proved difficult despite provisions under the Child Rights Act.
He said the ministry initially considered prosecuting husbands of existing child brides following the investigation but encountered resistance from some of the girls involved.
According to the official, some child brides opposed the arrest and prosecution of their husbands because they had already established families and had children with them.
He further disclosed that investigations showed that, in some cases, the individuals who originally forced the girls into marriage had died, making prosecution more complicated.
Nkwuba said the affected women increasingly requested assistance and economic empowerment rather than the prosecution of their husbands.
While Ebonyi State has begun strengthening its response to child marriage, the Cross River State Government has yet to publicly respond to concerns over the continued practice of money marriage in Becheve community.
Cross River State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Edema Irom, was contacted and asked whether her ministry was aware that the practice continued despite an alleged ban.
She was also asked to provide details of any previous or ongoing government interventions aimed at ending money marriage in Becheve.
Although the commissioner reportedly read the message sent to her via WhatsApp, she had not responded as of the time of the report.
Similarly, Cross River State Commissioner for Information, Ekpenyong Cobham, did not respond to repeated calls and a text message seeking the government’s position on the issue.
The development leaves questions about the current level of government intervention against money marriage in Becheve and the protection of children and women affected by the practice.
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