18-Year-Old Girl Escapes Forced Marriage to Notorious Bandit Leader in Katsina
An 18-year-old girl, Amina Suleiman, has escaped from her community in Danmusa Local Government Area of Katsina State after her parents allegedly attempted to marry her off to a notorious bandit leader identified as Babaye.
The bandit leader reportedly threatened to attack and burn down Mai-zare community if Amina’s family rejected his marriage request. The threat allegedly forced her family to accept the bride price and fix a wedding date.
However, a few days before the scheduled wedding, Amina escaped to Danmusa town, where she was spotted by members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF), who took her to safety before transferring her to their zonal office in Funtua.
Narrating her ordeal, Amina said her parents informed her about the marriage proposal from the bandit leader, but she rejected it because of his alleged criminal activities.
She said her family accepted the proposal out of fear of the threats against their community, adding that she could not imagine marrying someone widely known as a bandit.
Also speaking on the incident, the Funtua Zonal Commander of the Civilian JTF, Abba Sarki, explained that Babaye had threatened to burn down the community if Amina’s family refused to give him her hand in marriage.
Amina’s escape has brought attention to the plight of vulnerable girls in communities affected by banditry and the threats of forced marriage.
18-Year-Old Girl Escapes Forced Marriage to Notorious Bandit Leader in Katsina