An 18-year-old orphaned girl has reportedly fled her community in Dan Marke, Dan Musa Local Government Area of Katsina State, after her guardians allegedly accepted a marriage proposal from a notorious bandit leader who threatened to burn down the entire village if his demand was rejected.
The girl, identified as Amina Sulaiman, disclosed in a video interview in Hausa, published on Friday by the Civilian Joint Task Force office in Funtua, Katsina State.
In the interview, Amina said she had repeatedly rejected the marriage proposal, insisting that she would rather die than marry the armed criminal.
“I told them I could not marry him and had previously told him that I did not love him. During one of those encounters, he struck me on the shoulder, and since then, I have been unable to lift heavy objects with that arm,” she said.
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One killed, motorcycle burnt in Nasarawa communal clash Amina alleged that her guardians were afraid to confront the bandit leader and inform him directly that she did not want to marry him because they feared his reaction.
She further claimed that, despite knowing the danger she faced, her guardians sent her back to communicate her rejection to the armed criminal personally.
“They told me to go and tell him myself, even though they knew he could kill me. That was why I left and came here. I would rather die than marry him,” she said.
When asked whether she wanted to return to her village, Amina rejected the suggestion, saying she preferred to remain alone rather than be forced into marriage with the bandit leader.
“I would rather continue living here on my own. I will never marry a bandit who survives by engaging in criminal activities,” she said.
The alleged threat to burn down the entire village if the marriage demand was rejected highlights the extent of intimidation and coercion reportedly faced by residents of vulnerable communities in parts of Katsina State.
The incident also raises concerns about the safety of vulnerable girls and the use of violence and threats by armed groups to impose their will on rural communities.
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