Boko Haram Fixes Marital Age For Girls In Niger Communities

Boko Haram insurgents have told some residents of Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State not to recognize any constituted authority and ordered them to marry off their daughters at the age of 12 years.

Naija News had reported the Chairman of Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, Suleiman Chukumba, as disclosing that Boko Haram told residents of his LGA that they do not want to see conventional primary and secondary schools in the environment.

While disclosing that the terrorists have dominated over 500 communities in Shiroro only, he stated that the Boko Haram insurgents are trying to equip the people to fight against the government.

It has now emerged that the same set of terrorists are now forcing the people of Niger communities to marry off their daughters at the age of 12 years. The Co-Convener of Concerned Shiroro Youths, Bello Ibrahim, told Daily Trust that, “at a time, they were in Kawure, the village of the former Senator representing Niger East, David Umaru.

“But there was an operation to dislodge them by the joint military task force.

“Fortunately they were dispatched but after a while, since the military base is not stationed there, they reconvened.

“So now, they are not only in Kawure, they have also extended their tentacles to Communities like Kuregbe, Awulo, and host of other Communities.

“In Awulo and Kuregbe Communities, they assembled the locals, both Muslims, and Christians, and gave them marching orders that any girl that is 12 years old should be married off.

“There is no any form of law in the area, aside Boko Haram’s … If locals have any feud, either family issue of a community problem, they report to them for resolution.

“No case should be reported to police or court or any constituted authority for resolution.”

Another resident said the criminals operate freely, adding that, “they are operating freely and mingling freely with the villagers.

“They have become the constituted authority in those villages. And Kaure, Awulo and Kuregbe are their operational grounds. They coerce locals to obey them as their authority.

“In the entire Chukuba and Kuregbe ward, it is Boko Haram elements that are operating there not bandits that we know.”