Minors Detained in Bauchi Over Illegal Marriage Ceremony and N3,000 Bride Price

Authorities in Bauchi State have detained a group of minors accused of conducting an illegal marriage ceremony that included a bride price of N3,000.

The suspects, which include the alleged bride and groom, appeared before the Bauchi State Action Committee on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence on Thursday. The committee is chaired by Aisha Bala Mohammed, the governor’s wife.

The arrests were carried out by officers of the Bauchi State Vigilante and Youth Empowerment Agency together with the Bauchi State Police Command.

Other individuals arrested include people who reportedly attended the ceremony, an imam who allegedly officiated the marriage, and an underage girl accused of acting as the bride’s mother.

Mohammed Mohammed Bununu, the state’s Hisbah commander, said the marriage arrangement was illegal and noted that the bride’s father claimed he was unaware of the event.

He added that the state would not tolerate such practices and urged parents and guardians to maintain moral and religious values.

Aisha Bala Mohammed attributed the incident to poverty, parental neglect, and a decline in societal moral standards. She called on parents to pay closer attention to their children’s upbringing and to provide proper religious and moral guidance.

She also linked the trend to poor family planning and the early abandonment of children.