By Mariama Bundu
The Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs has confirmed the arrest of an elderly man accused of marrying an underage girl, following widespread public outrage over images and videos of the alleged marriage circulating on social media.
The Ministry made the disclosure on Tuesday, 19th May 2026, noting that the action was taken with support from community stakeholders, development partners, and the Family Support Unit (FSU) of the Sierra Leone Police.
In an official statement, the Ministry disclosed that the action was taken in line with the provisions of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act and the Child Rights Act of 2025.
The Ministry further revealed that some family members connected to the alleged incident have also been arrested and detained as investigations continue.
Authorities confirmed that statements have already been obtained from the alleged perpetrator and the family members involved in the matter.
Meanwhile, the child at the center of the case has been placed in a safe home and is currently receiving psycho-social support and protection services.
“The victim is currently receiving psycho-social support and has been placed in a safe home. We continue to assess the victim’s state of mind and provide the necessary protection support,” the Ministry stated.
The Ministry also urged members of the public to support efforts aimed at ending child abuse and child marriage by reporting cases through the national 116 Hotline for rape and other forms of abuse.
In addition, the Ministry appealed to the public to stop sharing the child’s photos and videos on social media, stressing that doing so violates the dignity, privacy, and welfare of the victim.
“The safety, dignity, identity, and welfare of children must always be protected in line with child protection laws and ethical standards,” the statement emphasized.
The Ministry also cautioned bloggers, media institutions, and social media users to exercise professionalism and extreme caution when publishing or sharing child-related and gender-sensitive content.
Child rights advocates and members of the public have continued to condemn child marriage practices, calling for stronger enforcement of child protection laws across the country.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to combating child marriage and all forms of violence against children and called on citizens to continue supporting the fight against abuse in Sierra Leone.
