Man Arrested for Forcing 16-Year-Old Daughter into Marriage

 The Anambra State Government has arrested Uzochukwu Okoli for forcing his underage daughter, Chioma, into marriage. 

Chioma, 16, reported her father and her husband to the state Ministry of Women and Social Welfare, alleging ill-treatment. 

A statement by Chidimma Ikeanyionwu, Media Aide to the state Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, Chioma says: 

"She alleged that she was first forced to live with a 70-year-old man at the age of 14, but after some time, she ran back to her father's house before he finally gave her out to a 34-year-old Chinedu N. as husband."

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 Chioma further stated: "Chioma, who also came with her elder sister, explained that life with the said husband has been a 'living hell' because he beats her and sometimes, after beating her, pees in her mouth and that made her run away with her nine-month-old baby."

 Okoli claimed his daughter is 18 years old, and later said 20 years, and threatened his daughters, saying: "Okoli, when he was handcuffed, threatened to deal with the daughters if he made it out of prison. He also urged them to pray he dies in prison because he will make life more miserable for them."

 Commissioner Ify Obinabo has instructed that the case be charged to court to ensure the children receive justice, and urged parents to guide their children properly and avoid pushing them into early marriages that can destroy their lives. 

Both Okoli and Chinedu N will be arraigned in court.