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A disturbing story has surfaced on social media involving a 16-year-old girl identified only as Angel, who reportedly got married to an older man named Michael shortly after completing her Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE).
The revelation came through a Facebook post by a user who claims to be a close relative of the groom. In the now-viral update, the relative congratulated the couple while simultaneously expressing deep concern about the bride’s age and the circumstances surrounding the marriage.
“Good evening my people,” the post begins. “A close relative to Michael chatted me that Angel is 16yrs. She just finished writing her SSCE exams… That she’s staying with her aunty but not sure if the aunty can sponsor her in school again because of her condition. She took decision to marry Michael out of the fear of unknown.
Sincerely, the girl is underaged. How I wish she continue her school to understand what marriage is before getting into it.
CONGRATULATIONS Angel Michael.”
The post, accompanied by a photo of the young bride and her husband posing under the caption “TOGETHER FOR EVER,” has sparked outrage and heartbreak across Nigerian social media, with many condemning the marriage as a clear case of child marriage.
At 16, Angel is legally a child under Nigerian law. The Child Rights Act, passed in 2003 and adopted by several states, explicitly sets the minimum age of marriage at 18. Despite this, child marriage remains prevalent in parts of the country, often driven by poverty, lack of educational support, and cultural practices.
Netizens have expressed fury and sadness over the development, with many pointing out that the teenager likely felt forced into the marriage due to fears over her future education and financial stability. Comments such as “This is not marriage, this is survival strategy gone wrong” and “She was failed by everyone around her” have flooded similar posts sharing the story.
As of now, there has been no official statement from local authorities or child protection agencies, but activists have called for immediate intervention to verify the ages involved and ensure the minor’s safety and rights are protected.
This case serves as another painful reminder of the ongoing struggle against child marriage in Nigeria, where thousands of girls continue to have their childhoods and futures cut short.
