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Outcry In Bayelsa As 4-Year-Old Girl Weds 54-Year-Old Man
In Bayelsa, the DO Foundation, a child rights advocacy group has strongly condemned a traditional marriage that took place on December 26.
The marriage involved a 4-year-old ‘bride’ and a 54-year-old man, identified as Elder Akpos in Akeddei community, Sagbama Local Government Area.
It was reported that the marriage occurred at the girl’s insistence.
A source, choosing to remain anonymous due to concerns about violating traditions, indicated that the girl’s parents asserted the 54-year-old man was her husband in her previous life.
Community sources also mentioned the girl’s claim that the man was her deceased husband from a mysterious past life.
The toddler recounted that she had been moving between different locations over the years, being born to different parents, in a quest to find her former husband from a past life.
The source said: “In order to avoid losing the girl to death, the people of Akeddei decided to organise a glamorous wedding ceremony to mark the union of the two previous life lovers.”
The Foundation labeled the event as horrendous and despicable, emphasizing that it was illegal and a violation of both the constitution and the Child Rights Act.
Mr. Elvis Mannie, Bayelsa’s Chairperson of DO Foundation, signed the statement.
The civil society group highlighted that such actions could undermine the significant progress achieved by the Bayelsa government and its people in safeguarding child rights.
The DO Foundation stressed that Bayelsa domesticated the Child’s Right Law in 2016, which remains effective.
They emphasized that this law explicitly prohibits child marriages and engagements, imposing severe penalties such as imprisonment and substantial fines.
The foundation said ”This law criminalises child marriages and child betrothals prescribing various terms of imprisonment and heavy fines.”
The Foundation urged the Bayelsa government, the Gender Response Initiative Team, and all stakeholders involved in gender response to take immediate action in response to the situation.
They specifically called upon security agencies to conduct a comprehensive investigation to safeguard the child from sexual exploitation.
Additionally, the group demanded the arrest and prosecution of anyone found responsible for this condemnable act.
The Foundation has initiated an investigation to rescue the child from this disturbing situation.
President Bola Tinubu and Mr. Taiwo Oyedele during his nomination on Wednesday.
The Senior Pastor of Freedom Life International Christian Center, Richard Tochukwu, has declared that gospel music possesses the spiritual capacity to transform Nigeria, describing it as a divine instrument capable of restoring hope and unity in the nation.
Speaking during an interaction with journalists, the cleric said music inspired by God’s Word can positively influence Nigeria’s spiritual and socio-political landscape by promoting peace, comfort and moral revival.
According to him, gospel music goes beyond entertainment and should be seen as a ministry tool for national healing.
ALSO READ: How Pastor Jerry Eze’s NSPPD Became The World’s Third Most-Watched YouTube Channel
“Gospel music is not just sound; it carries power. When songs are inspired by Scripture, they can heal hearts, restore faith and redirect a nation toward righteousness,” he said.
Pastor Tochukwu made the remarks while discussing his latest worship single, “I Want To Pray,” a spiritually reflective song produced by Audio5.
He explained that the track was created to encourage believers to remain steadfast in prayer and maintain consistent fellowship with God.
The song draws inspiration from Luke 18:1, which urges believers to pray always and not lose heart.
A spiritual son of Paul Enenche, Pastor Tochukwu revealed that most of his songs are birthed from deep study of Scripture.
“Sometimes while studying or preaching from a passage, a melody begins to flow. The lyrics are drawn directly from the Word. Our songs are intentional; they carry the same message we preach,” he explained.
Reflecting on his journey, he recounted beginning as a drummer who also sang before discovering what he described as a divine instruction to minister through music.
“I realised that you don’t minister only through preaching. God made me understand that songs are another channel through which His Word can reach people. Every release is backed by Scripture,” he added.
Pastor Tochukwu currently serves in Lagos, combining pastoral leadership with music ministry.
The audio and video for “I Want To Pray” are now available on major digital streaming platforms.
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