The Nigeria Police Force, the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA), and the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV) have issued a joint call to end child marriage in Nigeria, urging families, community leaders, and policymakers to safeguard the rights and education of young girls.
The call was made during a joint symposium in Abuja commemorating the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child, where senior police officers, child-rights advocates, and community stakeholders gathered to discuss strategies to eliminate early forced marriage and expand access to formal education.
Representing Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu, Deputy Inspector-General Kenechukwu Onwuemelie declared that protecting vulnerable children is both a legal mandate and a moral obligation for state security institutions.
“The Nigeria Police Force recognizes that protecting the girl-child is not merely a legal obligation but also a moral and societal responsibility,” DIG Onwuemelie said. “Investing in girls’ education, health, safety, leadership opportunities, and economic empowerment directly contributes to peace, security, and national development.”
Challenging harmful social norms
Speaking on behalf of POWA President Mrs Olufunmilayo Disu, Zainab Muhammed urged communities across Nigeria to reject cultural practices and economic pressures that perpetuate child marriage.
“Cultural heritage should provide girls with identity and a sense of belonging, not impose limitations on their aspirations,” Mrs. Muhammed said. “When a girl is denied education, society loses a potential leader, innovator, and catalyst for positive change.”
In her keynote address titled “Investing in the Rights of the Girl-Child: Ending Child Marriage and Building a Safer Future for Every Girl,” Police Commissioner Sarah Ehindero outlined the physical, emotional, and psychological toll early marriage inflicts on young children.
CP Ehindero emphasized that child marriage cannot be dismissed as a private domestic matter, pointing to poverty, gender inequality, insecurity, and limited schooling as key drivers behind the practice.
Strengthening enforcement and child protection
POCACOV National Coordinator, Superintendent of Police Dr Orvenonne Ikwen, highlighted that the initiative reflects the police force’s shift toward preventive, community-oriented policing aimed at identifying at-risk children before harm occurs.
The police leadership reaffirmed that specialized Gender and Family Units across divisional police stations nationwide have undergone targeted training to handle child abuse, trafficking, and unlawful forced marriage cases with professional sensitivity.
CP Ehindero urged victims, parents, and educators to utilize these specialized channels and report cases to law enforcement agencies and social welfare ministries, reassuring young girls that police officers remain accessible allies in protecting their safety and fundamental rights.
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