ICC Note: Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, the Emir of Kano, just publicly announced his wish to raise the marriage age in Nigeria, doing away with the long standing Muslim tradition of marrying young girls off before they reach maturity. Sanusi told the conference of Northern Muslim Religious Leaders Forum on Public Healthcare that the measure would be a step forward to protect women and their reproductive health. Forced marriage and forced conversion represents an ongoing persecution problem in northern Nigeria. Muslim Sharia law has traditionally allowed and protected the kidnapping of young Christian girls as wives for older Muslim men. The present case of Ese Oruru, a 14-year-old Christian girl from southern Nigeria kidnapped, forcibly converted to Islam, and carried to Kano in the far North as a bride for a Muslim man brings this issue into focus. Her captor Yunusa Dahiru faces criminal charges related to sexual abuse of a minor.

By Abdulsalam Muhammad

05/25/16, Kano, Nigeria (Vanguard) – The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II Tuesday voiced his opposition against child marriage saying it’s time to peg marriage age in Nigeria.

Addressing a conference of Northern Muslims Religious Leaders Forum on Primary Healthcare in Kano, the former Central Bank Governor explained that the reproductive health challenges associated with such practice is enough to discourage the age long tradition.

…

[Full Story]