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NGO Raises Alarm Over Rising Abuse, Early Marriage of Northern Girls Amid Insecurity
Growing insecurity across northern Nigeria is putting thousands of girls at risk of abuse, exploitation, and early marriage, a non-governmental organization (NGO) has warned.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The NGO, during a press briefing in Kano on Friday, said armed conflict, kidnapping, and bandit attacks have forced many families from their homes, leaving girls exposed to physical and sexual abuse in displacement camps and unsafe communities.
“At this rate, young girls are losing their childhoods. Insecurity is making them vulnerable to violence and early marriage,” the NGO’s spokesperson said.
Insecurity and Its Toll
Northern Nigeria continues to experience widespread insecurity, with banditry and insurgency displacing thousands of people in states such as Borno, Zamfara, Katsina, and Kaduna. Many of those affected live in camps or informal settlements lacking adequate security and essential services.
Experts say girls in these areas face higher risks of sexual violence, forced marriage, and early pregnancy. Many have been forced to abandon school due to fear of attacks or lack of access to education.
“Parents, in most cases, marry off their daughters early because they believe it will protect them from abuse or hunger,” the NGO’s report stated. “Unfortunately, these marriages often lead to more suffering and lifelong trauma.”
Early Marriage as a Coping Mechanism
With rising poverty and limited resources, families in conflict-affected regions are increasingly turning to early marriage as a means of survival. According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, the northern region accounts for some of the highest child marriage rates in the country, with over 60 percent of girls marrying before the age of 18.
“Girls who marry early are more likely to face domestic violence, health complications from childbirth, and limited access to education,” the NGO warned. “It’s a violation of their rights that must stop.”
A 2024 study on women and girls in conflict zones found that many were pressured into marriage, sometimes to insurgents or older men, as a condition for safety or food support.
Voices from the Camps
In internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, several girls shared experiences of harassment and exploitation. One teenage girl, who fled an attack in Zamfara, said she was forced to marry at 15 after her father was killed by bandits.
“I didn’t want to marry, but my family said it was the only way to survive,” she said. “Now I live with a man I barely know, and I’m not allowed to go to school.”
Human rights groups say such stories are becoming common in conflict areas, calling for urgent government intervention.
NGO Calls for Urgent Action
The organization urged both federal and state governments to strengthen security around rural communities and displacement camps. It also called for the enforcement of child protection laws, the creation of safe spaces for girls, and better access to education.
“There must be stronger political will to protect vulnerable girls,” the spokesperson said. “Security agencies, traditional rulers, and community leaders must work together to end early marriage and gender-based violence.”
The NGO also appealed for more funding and international support for programs addressing education, trauma care, and empowerment for displaced girls.
A Call for Collective Responsibility
Northern Nigeria remains one of the regions with the highest number of out-of-school children, many of them girls. Analysts warn that without urgent intervention, insecurity and poverty could erase years of progress in girl-child education and women’s rights.
“These girls deserve a chance to live freely and achieve their dreams,” the NGO concluded. “Protecting them is not just charity — it’s a responsibility.”
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State has strongly opposed reported moves by the state government to revisit the alleged Offa robbery case involving former Governor Abubakar Bukola Saraki and others.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
reports that the party made its position known during an emergency press conference in Ilorin on Friday, describing the development as politically motivated and unjust.
PDP spokesman, Comrade Olushola Adewara, said the alleged plan to reopen the case amounts to an attempt to politicise a matter that has already been concluded by the courts.
He alleged that the move was targeted at dragging Saraki into a case in which, according to him, legal authorities had previously found no evidence linking him to the incident.
Adewara referenced earlier legal opinions from the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, which reportedly stated that Saraki was not connected to the robbery case.
The party insisted that suspects in the case had already been prosecuted and convicted, with judgments upheld at appellate levels, while the matter is currently before the Supreme Court.
PDP urged Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to focus on governance rather than what it described as attempts to revive old political narratives.
It also called on security agencies to monitor the situation closely, warning that such actions could heighten political tension in the state.
The party further appealed to residents, especially families of victims in Offa, not to allow their pain to be used for political purposes.
Senator representing Oyo South, Sharafadeen Alli, has declared his intention to contest the Oyo State governorship election ahead of the 2027 general elections.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
reports that Alli, who serves under the All Progressives Congress (APC), made the declaration on Friday during a formal event held at the Police Field in Yemetu, Ibadan North Local Government Area.
The APC chieftain and Ekaarun Balogun of Ibadanland said he will be running on the platform of his party.
The event attracted thousands of APC leaders, stakeholders, and members, including top political figures such as Senator Yunus Akintunde, House of Representatives members Akin Alabi, Aderemi Oseni, Akeem Adeyemi, Olafisoye Akinmoyede, Tajudeen Abisodun, and Senator Hamzat Adeseun.
Also in attendance were former Deputy Governor Iyiola Oladokun, Asiwaju Yemi Aderibigbe, and Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle, among others.
Alli said his decision followed wide consultations with stakeholders and was driven by his desire to advance the development of Oyo State.
He noted his past political experience, including serving as Chairman of Ibadan North Local Government and Secretary to the Oyo State Government under Senator Rasidi Ladoja, as well as his current role in the Senate, where he said he has consistently advocated for his constituents.
According to him, his ambition is focused on delivering better governance and moving the state forward.
A PDP chieftain and convener of The Alternative, Otunba Segun Showunmi, has declared his intention to contest the 2027 Ogun State governorship election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
reports that Showunmi made the announcement during a courtesy visit to the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) secretariat in Abeokuta on Friday.
He called for a broad political coalition involving opposition parties and grassroots groups to challenge what he described as the failures of dominant political forces in the state.
Showunmi argued that political parties may choose or endorse candidates, but insisted such arrangements must not deny voters a genuine electoral choice.
He said: “I will be running for governor in the 2027 governorship election. I have come to plead with you to set up a small committee… to determine how we can collaborate to make this happen.”
He also questioned whether Ogun State would experience a “coronation” or a competitive election process, urging stakeholders to allow open political contest.
The PDP chieftain noted that Ogun West’s long-standing exclusion from producing a governor is a legitimate grievance, but stressed that aspirations must still be tested through competition.
He advocated issue-based campaigns ahead of 2027, rejecting “money politics” and challenging aspirants to public debates on governance.
Showunmi maintained that he has no history of violence or political thuggery, insisting the election should be centred on ideas and development plans for the state.
In response, IPAC leadership and other political actors at the event called for collaboration and careful selection of leaders ahead of the 2027 elections.
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