The marriage list is stopping me from getting married – Benue lady cries out for help as her family demands items worth over N2m from suitor

A young Tiv woman from Mbaaji, Kunav, in Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State has cried out for help, alleging that her family is demanding a marriage list totaling over N2 million from her suitor.

According to her, despite the law passed by the Tor Tiv and the Tiv Traditional Council concerning marriage in Tiv land, her family insisted that her suitor must provide all the items on the list. 

Recall that the Tiv Traditional Council pegged marriage lists at not more than N1,000 to curb excessive marriage demands in Tivland.

The woman said the development has stalled her plans to marry. 

She explained that repeated pleas to her family to reduce the list in line with the directive were rejected, with relatives insisting that all items on the list must be provided before she could be given out in marriage.

“The marriage list my family issued is stopping me from getting married. I am pleading with the Tor Tiv and the Tiv Traditional Council to come to my aid,” she said.

The case has sparked public concern, particularly among residents of Vandeikya, who questioned how some communities reportedly issue marriage lists running into millions of naira despite the standing traditional order.