Father arrested after teenage daughter dies in Katsina over forced marriage dispute

A 15-year-old girl named Ummul Khair has died in Katsina State and her father, Kabir Sani, is now in police custody. The incident happened in the Shagari Low-Cost area of Katsina metropolis. According to residents, there had been ongoing tension in the family because the girl was allegedly being forced to marry a suitor she did not want.

Neighbours reported hearing the teenager crying for help on Wednesday night and tried to intervene, but no one was allowed into the house. One resident told reporters, "We heard her voice and tried to find out what was happening, but no one was allowed into the house. The next thing we heard was that she had passed away." Her body was discovered when her schoolmates came to pick her up for school the next morning.

Police spokesperson DSP Sadik Aliyu confirmed the father is in custody and an investigation has commenced. This is heartbreaking. A child is dead because she dared to say no to a marriage she did not want. How many more young girls will we lose to this culture of silence and violence?