Governor of Borno State, Babagana Umara Zulum, has brought attention to a concerning trend within internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Nigeria.
In a widely circulated video, the governor shared the story of a man who arrived at an IDP camp in 2012 with one wife and has since taken three additional wives.
This case exemplifies a broader issue of rising polygamy in these camps, despite many residents lacking the resources to support such large families.
Governor Zulum expressed his frustration over the silence of religious leaders and politicians on this matter. He stated, "He can't feed.
But which cleric is speaking against it in their sermons or which politician speaks against it? They will say if we speak against them, they will not vote for us."
The governor emphasized the importance of addressing this issue, citing religious teachings from the Qur'an that advise against marrying multiple wives without the financial means to sustain them.
The governor called for a collaborative effort among clerics, parents, and the government to tackle not only the issue of polygamy but also other social challenges like street begging.
"Let clerics come up with ideas, and strategies on how to reduce street begging in the state. Let the parents amend their ways, clerics should preach, and the government will also do our best," he urged.
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