LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — A child forced to marry at just 13 who then poisoned her 35-year-old husband and three friends is set to be freed in Nigeria, lawyers and a judge said Wednesday, amid fears for her safety and future.
She can count herself lucky. Another 13-year-old who killed her 35-year-old husband remains on death row despite a ruling, exactly one year ago from the West African Community Court of Justice, that her sentence is illegal because she was a minor.
Forced marriage and child marriage are also against the law here, but widely practiced.
Both girls had become second wives in the Muslim northern part of Nigeria where polygamy and child marriage is common. Neither had ever been to school and couldn’t read or write.
Read More: http://news.yahoo.com/child-accused-killing-husband-freed-nigeria-100125801.html
Tags: Child Marriage, forced marriage, halo project, human rights, Nigeria
