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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.
Super Eagles Captain, Ahmed Musa has been signed up by Jaiz Bank as a brand ambassador.
An elated Musa made the disclosure in a statement on his verified handle on micro-blogging site, X on Thursday.
The Kano Pillars striker urged his fans to troop to Jaiz Bank to do business for trusting him with the new role.
He exclaimed, “And to my amazing fans – if you want to support me, make sure to head over to Jaiz Bank and open your accounts with them today! ”
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He wrote, “✨Alhamdulillah✨ I am SO excited to announce that I’ve officially joined Jaiz Bank as their newest ambassador! 🎉💼
“A huge thank you to @JaizBankNG for trusting me and allowing me to be a part of this amazing journey! 🙏🏼💚 It’s an honor to represent a brand that believes in growth, security, and financial empowerment.
“I can’t wait to share all the incredible things we’ll be doing together! 🚀💡
And to my amazing fans – if you want to support me, make sure to head over to Jaiz Bank and open your accounts with them today! Let’s grow together! 💪🏼🔑
“@JaizBankNG is a non interest Financial institution poised with a mission to make life better through ethical Finance. 👌👌”
#NewBeginnings #BankWithJaizBank #PartneredUp #TeamJaizBank”
On November 20, 2024, Kenya’s First Lady, Rachel Ruto, celebrated her 56th birthday and her husband President William Ruto publicly expressed his love and appreciation for his wife on this special day, wishing her well.
The birthday celebrations were marked by an outpouring of goodwill from political figures, media, and citizens across Kenya, who praised her for her grace, leadership, and significant contributions to society, particularly through initiatives like the Joyful Women Organisation, which aims to empower rural women.
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The day was characterized by a collective acknowledgment of her role as a national figure dedicated to community upliftment.
In a heartfelt message, President William Ruto took to social media, writing, “Happy birthday my love, @MamaRachelRuto. Continue being a blessing to me and our children. Mungu akubariki sana,” which translates to “God bless you abundantly.”
Other prominent leaders also extended their wishes to the First Lady, with Anne Waiguru, EGH, OGW, Governor of Kirinyaga County, tweeting, “Happy Birthday First Lady,” further showing the respect and admiration for Rachel Ruto’s leadership and impact.
A gas cylinder explosion at a filling station in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State has resulted in significant damage to six vehicles, according to a statement from the Katsina State Police Command.
The command’s spokesperson, Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, confirmed the incident, which occurred on Friday, November 15, 2024.
He explained that a loud explosion alerted police operatives from the Jibia Divisional Police Headquarters. Responding promptly, the Divisional Police Officer led a team to the site, supported by military personnel.
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“Upon arrival, operatives found a truck loaded with gas cylinders engulfed in flames at Tamal filling station, along Kagadama-Magamar Jibia Road,” Sadiq-Aliyu stated. The joint team acted swiftly, deploying measures to protect lives and limit property damage. Their efforts successfully extinguished the fire.
The spokesperson added, “Six motor vehicles were significantly affected by the fire incident, but fortunately, no life was lost.”
State Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Abubakar-Musa, has directed a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the explosion. Updates on the findings will be provided as investigations progress.
This incident highlights the need for heightened safety measures at gas filling stations to prevent such occurrences.
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