Breaking! Teenager Flees Home In An Attempt To Escape Child Marriage

 

How 15-year-old, Hameed Baddiyatu,  reported her father to the office of FIDA Ekiti on 22nd September, 2020 claiming he was trying to force her to get married. 

She fled her home town Plateau state for Ekiti state on Thursday 17th September, 2020 to stay with her brother as a means of avoiding the marriage. 

Calls were put through to her brother, requesting for him to be present at a scheduled meeting on 23rd September, 2020. She was then took her to a secret home(a FIDA shelter) to spend the night.

On the day of the scheduled meeting,  Baddiyatu was brought  from the home to FIDA  office. Her brother came, and from the information he gave, their father had effected the arrest of a man in Plateau state claiming that the man sponsored her trip to Ekiti. Even though the man was released the following day, Baddiyat's father  threatened to re-arrest the man if Baddiyatu did not return to plateau state on Monday, 28th September, 2020.

FIDA Ekiti swung into action, called the National Human Rights Commission, Ekiti state branch who then linked us with the Plateau branch. We called the Plateau branch, gave them a summary of the case and we were assured that they will take up the case and ensure that the man  is safe. 

Her brother, Hameed Adamu, was then made to sign an undertaking to the effect that Baddiyatu will report at our office every Wednesday by 12PM for counselling.

FIDA Ekiti enjoined the members of the public to be their brother's keepers and report all cases of human trafficking , sexual violence against women and children.

Signed:

Publicity Secretary.