Summary
Controversy unfolds as a 54-year-old Nigerian man reportedly weds a four-year-old, citing a traditional practice, ‘Koripamo,’ to mitigate the child’s persistent health issues.
In Bayelsa’s Akeddei community, a disconcerting incident occurred on December 26, 2023, triggering public concern. Allegedly, Mr. Akpos Napoleon, 54, entered into a union with a four-year-old girl, justifying it with the cultural practice of ‘Koripamo’ to alleviate the child’s recurring health problems.
Dr Abayomi Alabi, Director of Child Rights International, commented, “After hearing from the child’s parents, the traditional ruler, and other rights groups, we have ceased fire and let sleeping dogs lie.”
Mr. Napoleon defended his actions, expressing desperation, “Since she says if I don’t do what she says she will die, I had to look for money and do it since it involves life; as it is, I am frustrated by this whole issue.”
Chief Moneyman Binabo, the community’s paramount ruler, shed light on the cultural aspect. “What surprised me was the demand of the little girl for an elaborate ceremony involving food, a canopy, and a music system to be hired to celebrate the marriage.”
Child rights advocates strongly condemned the alleged marriage, deeming it illegal and criminal. The Gender Response Initiative Team (GRIT), led by Dr Dise Ogbise-Goddy and Kizito Andah, initiated an inquiry.
Community representatives clarified that the event was not a formal marriage but a cultural practice known as ‘Koripamo.’ If a girl child is frequently unwell, a man is required to perform this ritual by paying a symbolic amount to prevent the child from dying.
The GRIT investigation involved submissions from the child’s father, Mr. Morris Aboma, the groom, Mr. Napoleon, and Chief Binabo. They emphasized that the practice did not bind the girl to the groom or prevent her from choosing a partner when she reached the appropriate age.
As the situation unfolds, the Bayelsa Ministry of Women Affairs, Children, and Social Development, along with stakeholders, is set to review the matter and make informed decisions.
FAQs:
- Is this considered a legal marriage?
- No, the community refers to it as a cultural practice, ‘Koripamo,’ involving a symbolic amount to address the child’s health issues, not a formal marriage.
- What prompted the public outcry?
- Public outrage arose due to concerns over the age difference and perceived violation of child rights, leading to an investigation by the Gender Response Initiative Team.
- How does the community justify the alleged marriage?
- The community claims the event is a cultural practice, ‘Koripamo,’ designed to address the frequent illness of the child. They argue that it does not bind the girl to the groom and allows her to choose a partner when she reaches an appropriate age.