Borno Woman Reportedly Takes Own Life After Being Forced Into Marriage

By Micheal Chukwuebuka

Tragedy struck in Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State on Sunday evening when a young woman allegedly took her own life after being compelled by her father to marry one of his friends.

The incident was made public by counter-insurgency expert and security analyst, Zagazola Makama, who disclosed the details on Monday via his verified social media handle.

According to Makama, the woman — whose identity has not yet been revealed — ended her life shortly after the forced marriage arrangement was finalised.

Citing local sources, Makama said the incident occurred around 6:20 p.m. after the victim, said to be in deep emotional distress, succumbed to pressure from her family to proceed with the arranged marriage.

Child protection advocate, Bukar Fantami Gubio, who also confirmed the incident, described it as “heart-wrenching” and called for urgent intervention from relevant authorities.

“The emotional pain and pressure she endured as a result of this forced marriage pushed her into taking her own life. It is truly a sad situation that calls for immediate action,” Gubio said.

He appealed to human rights organisations, law enforcement agencies, and community leaders to thoroughly investigate the matter and ensure justice is served.

According to him, the case underscores the urgent need to protect the rights and dignity of young women in Nigeria, especially in communities where forced marriages remain prevalent.

“This tragedy is a painful reminder of the importance of respecting women’s freedom of choice in marriage decisions,” he added.

Efforts by journalists to obtain an official response from the Borno State Police Command proved unsuccessful, as the Command’s spokesperson, Nahum Kenneth Daso, did not respond to calls or messages at the time of filing this report.