The Nigeria Police Force has called for stronger action to end child marriage and protect the rights of girls, stressing the need for sustained investment in their education, health, safety and economic empowerment.
The call was made on Monday, October 12, during the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child commemoration organised by the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV) in partnership with the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA) at the Police Resource Centre, Jabi, Abuja.
Held under the theme, “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights,” the event brought together secondary school students from the Federal Capital Territory, development partners, educators, medical practitioners, policymakers and representatives of international organisations.
Discussions focused on tackling child marriage and violations of girls’ rights despite the existence of national and international legal frameworks aimed at protecting children.
Representing the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Logistics and Supply, Kenechukwu Onwumelie, described the initiative as timely and impactful.
Onwumelie said the protection of children’s rights was both a legal obligation and a moral responsibility, adding that investing in girls meant providing opportunities for education, healthcare, personal safety, leadership and economic independence.
He urged stakeholders to strengthen their commitment to ending child marriage and protecting children from abuse and other harmful practices.
Speaking on behalf of POWA National President, Chief Mutiat Olufunmilola Disu, Mrs Zainab Isyaku Mohammed emphasised the importance of collaboration among government institutions, communities and other stakeholders in addressing child marriage and violations of girls’ rights.
Mohammed urged students to take advantage of awareness and advocacy platforms to learn about their rights, while calling for urgent measures to discourage the early marriage of girls.
She also highlighted the harmful consequences of child marriage for affected children, their families and society at large.
Other participants included representatives of the FCT Secondary Education Board, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development.
The Nigeria Police Force reaffirmed its commitment to working with relevant stakeholders and supporting community-based initiatives to promote children’s rights and protect girls from abuse, exploitation and harmful practices.
