Gambiaj.com – (Soma, The Gambia) – The Gambia Police Force has launched an investigation into an alleged case of child marriage involving a 15-year-old girl in Sare Biran village, following reports that the marriage was conducted while the girl was still attending school.

The incident, which came to public attention through a report by What’s On Gambia, involved a student at Soma Lower Basic School who was reportedly married off to a boy she was frequently seen with.

According to local sources cited by the media outlet, repeated community efforts to separate the two were unsuccessful, prompting village elders to allegedly approve and arrange the marriage.

“The boy and the 15-year-old are always seen together,” a local source said in the report. “They tried to separate them, but to no avail. So the elders decided they should marry them.”

The marriage reportedly took place at the village mosque during school hours.

Despite earlier notifications, the police did not act until Thursday, July 10. According to a police notice released on Saturday, preliminary investigations later confirmed that the girl involved is 15 years old.

As part of the ongoing investigation, the Soma Police Station has invited several individuals for questioning, including the girl’s father and mother, the alleged husband, the person who facilitated the marriage, and witnesses from the mosque where the ceremony reportedly took place.

The case is being investigated under Section 24(a), (b), and (c) of the Children’s (Amendment) Act, 2016, which strictly prohibits child marriage in The Gambia.

In a public statement, the Gambia Police Force reiterated its strong condemnation of child marriage in all forms, stating, “Anyone found engaging in or facilitating such acts will face the full force of the law.”

The incident has sparked renewed calls for stronger enforcement of child protection laws and more robust community awareness campaigns to combat harmful traditional practices.