No Girl Should Lose Her Childhood To Marriage Police, POWA Warn
A 10-year-old girl should be in school, learning and dreaming about her future, not being forced into marriage.
This was the message from the Nigeria Police Force and the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA), which have called for an end to child marriage and stronger protection for the girl-child.
The warning came during a programme marking the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child, organised in collaboration with the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV).
Speaking at the event, Commissioner of Police Sarah Ehindero described child marriage as a harmful practice that robs girls of education, threatens their wellbeing and forces them into responsibilities they are not physically or emotionally prepared to handle.
She identified poverty, insecurity, gender inequality, harmful cultural practices and limited access to education as major drivers of early marriage, insisting that financial hardship and tradition must not override a child’s rights.
“Child marriage is not simply a private family matter,” Ehindero said, calling for early intervention, public awareness and the professional handling of child-abuse cases.
Representing the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Kenechukwu Onwuemelie said protecting girls was both a legal obligation and a shared responsibility, reaffirming the police commitment to safeguarding children through law enforcement and community engagement.
POWA President Olufunmilayo Disu, represented by Zainab Ishaku Muhammed, urged parents and community leaders to challenge traditions that limit girls’ opportunities, stressing that education empowers them to make informed decisions and contribute to national development.
POCACOV National Coordinator, Superintendent of Police Orvenonne Ikwen, called for stronger mentorship, educational support and collaboration among families, schools, government agencies and civil society organisations.
The speakers urged girls facing abuse or threats to seek help from trusted adults or the police, while calling on parents, religious leaders and traditional rulers to report suspected cases of child marriage, exploitation and abuse.
They stressed that protecting the girl-child must go beyond annual commemorations, with sustained action to keep girls in school, enforce child-protection laws and ensure every girl can grow up safely and pursue her ambitions.
Join Our WhatsApp Community
