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Restiveness and killings in Anambra State and the Southeast geopolitical zone are jeopardizing the prospects of marriage for women, according to a report from the Anambra Truth, Justice and Peace Commission (ATJPC).

The commission's Executive Summary, released to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka, the state capital, emphasized that these issues have resulted in a demographic challenge, hindering women from finding suitable spouses.

The report highlighted that the structural problem of demographic sustainability arises from the difficulties women face in finding mates due to ongoing restiveness and violence. Women, particularly, have been severely impacted, enduring killings, rape, loss of family members, and denial of livelihoods.

The document pointed out that since 1999, when restiveness escalated in the region, thousands of young people have lost their lives, leading to a significant reduction in the number of marriageable males. This, in turn, reduces the likelihood of women finding suitable partners, potentially leaving them unmarried and reproductively unfulfilled.

The report suggested that the rising number of unmarried women in the region, especially those within the homeland with limited interactions outside, could face challenges in finding suitable suitors. The fear of giving birth outside wedlock due to societal judgment could further contribute to reproductive challenges.

Citing specific cases of violence, such as the killing of Amaka Igwe and Harira Jubril with her daughters, the report underscored the economic consequences, including destitution, dependencies, and mass widowhood. It emphasized the prevalence of polygamy in rural communities, where women's access to land hinges on their relationships with men.

The report also highlighted the severe livelihood consequences for women, especially those without sons who may lose access to land and subsistence. The breakdown of communities into atrocity and violence has resulted in the destruction of healthcare facilities, limiting access to reproductive healthcare.

In addition, the report addressed the unique regional problem of diminishing boy-child school enrollment and retention in Anambra, contrary to the general issue of girl-child school enrolment in other parts of Nigeria. The consequences of insecurity have led to a regression in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as young boys abandon education, fearing violence or abduction.

The ATJPC, comprising 14 members, was inaugurated in June 2022 to investigate insecurity in Anambra and the Southeast. The final report was submitted to Governor Chukwuma Soludo, with Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, a human rights lawyer and former Chairman of Nigeria Human Rights Commission, serving as its chairman.