AFTER one year of legal mishmash,
Wasila Umar, regained her freedom: she allegedly killed her husband, his three
friends, and injured others. She was 14. Wise men in her community in Gaya
Local Government Area of Kano State found her a husband.
Tragedy struck 17 days into her
forced marriage. Wasila reportedly poisoned the food she served her husband –
she wanted her freedom. She did not reckon with the camaraderie her community
shares during meal times. Her husband’s friends who ate the food were also
victims of the poison.
Her story is pathetic and reflects a
revolt of children in forced marriages. Their guardians think they have no
opinion, but they have. Wasila wanted education; nobody listened to her.
“I have never enjoyed the
opportunity of going to Islamic school or acquiring Western education. My
father forced me into this mess by stubbornly forcing me into a relationship I
was not prepared to live in,” she said of the marriage to her 35-year-old
husband, Sani.
Kano State Police Command Public
Relations Officer, ASP Magaji Musa Majia, had then said, “The case has been
referred to appropriate authorities for the next line of action. I am
assuring you that Wasila would appear in court soon because we have limitation
on the number of days we can keep a suspect no matter the perceived weakness of
the case or the personality involved”.
Wasila, who confessed to the crime,
became dramatic in court. She was incoherent after the charges were read.
Pressure mounted on the Kano State Government to free her. The trial continued.
Section 29 (4) (a) of the 1999
Constitution, states, “full age” means the age of eighteen years and
above; (b) any woman who is married shall be deemed to be of full age.” Those
who married off Wasila at 14 broke the law. The law did not punish them.
The Child’s Rights Act of 2003
prohibits child marriages and betrothals. In Section 21, any marriage
contracted by anyone less than 18 years is invalid. Under Section 22: “(1) No
parent, guardian or any other person shall betroth a child to any person”.
Both provisions are in the Criminal and Penal Codes, though they are hardly
enforced.
Wasila’s belated release does not
amount to obedience of the law. She should not have been married in the first
place, being a child. How would she cope with the trauma of her ordeal? Would
the State provide the professional care she needs?
What happens to millions of other
endangered children, some in similar marriages and others destined for them?
Wasila, tragically, gave them a voice. We should not wait for another Wasila to
free our children.
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