FREETOWN – The Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs has confirmed that an alleged perpetrator and several family members have been arrested and detained following a child marriage incident.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Ministry said the arrests were carried out in line with the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act and the Child Rights Act of 2025.
According to the Ministry, police have obtained statements from the alleged perpetrator and the family members involved. 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 statement read.
The Ministry also urged community members to report cases of abuse through the 116 hotline for rape and other forms of abuse.
Appealing directly to the public, the Ministry strongly advised against sharing photos and videos of the child that have been circulating on social media.
“To protect the dignity and privacy of the child, we strongly appeal to the public to stop sharing her photos and videos,” the Ministry said.
All blogging platforms, media outlets, and social media users were also advised to exercise extreme caution when publishing child-related and gender-sensitive content.
“The safety, dignity, identity, and welfare of children must always be protected in line with child protection laws and ethical standards,” the Ministry added.
