Niger Government on Tuesday says it handles 48 cases of early and forced marriage between 2015 and to date.
Amina Gu’ar, Commissioner, Ministry for Women Affairs and Social Development, disclosed this to newsmen in Minna.
She said 26 girls were forced to marry persons against their wishes, while 22 early marriages were conducted by either their parents or guardians.
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Mrs Gu’ar said 1,250 family cases/counselling and 320 divorced cases were also treated by the ministry during the period.
Other cases handled by the ministry, according to her, include 820 juvenile delinquency, repatriation of 13 persons to their states of origin and sponsorship of 32 juveniles to boastal institute, Kaduna.
The commissioner also said that 45 drug addicts and 380 truancy cases were handled during the period
She said the ministry had organised burial for 452 unidentified corpses and rendered psycho-social and counselling services to 120 HIV/AIDs patients.
Mrs Gu’ar said the ministry would continue to facilitate gender engagement in its development plans and programmes for the survival, protection and participation of children and women.
NAN
