The Bayelsa Government has summoned the parents of a four-year-old girl who was allegedly given out in marriage to a 54-year-old man in the Akeddei community of Sagbama Local Government Area of the state.
A statement jointly signed on Saturday by the Chairman, Gender Response Initiative Team, Dr. Dise Ogbise-Goddy, and the Director, Child Development at the state Ministry of Women Affairs, Children and Social Development, Mr Paniebi Jacob, stated that the family of the groom were also invited to explain their involvement in the supposed child-marriage following a public outrage that emanated from the event which was conducted on December 26th.
In the statement, the government not only frowned at the development which it termed an ‘illegal union’, but also vowed to deal decisively with anyone found culpable.
