Habiba's father alleged that his
daughter was kidnapped from school, Government Senior Secondary School,
Kudun Kankara, Kastina State by Jamilu and has been forcefully converted
to Islam and married off by the Emir without her parents consent to
Lawal. According to Tanko, Jamilu had not only admitted to abducting
his daughter but also revealed that she is presently being kept at the
Palace of the Emir of Katsina. He alleged that the Emir had informed him
that his daughter had been converted to Islam and he had received the
sum of N50, 000 as dowry from Jamilu.
“My
little girl was abducted on the 16th of August 2016 from her school.
After my investigations, I discovered that Jamilu Lawal who lives in the
same community was responsible for my daughters’ disappearance. I
requested that a formal complaint about the incident be lodged to the
Commissioner of Police in Kastina, Jamilu and his parents were summoned
to the police station and he not only admitted to abducting my daughter
Habiba but also revealed that she was presently being kept at the Palace
of the Emir of Kastina. On arrival at the Palace, the Emir informed me
that my daughter has been converted from Christianity to Islam
henceforth, there is no longer any relationship between me and my
daughter and we can no longer inherit each other. He further informed me
that he has received the sum if N50, 000.00 as dowry from Jamilu
Ibrahim for my daughter therefore, he will give her out in marriage in
accordance with Islamic rites and injunctions. He accused me of defaming
him at the Police Station and I was threatened, intimidated and coerced
to sign an apology drafted on my behalf in his Palace. As at today, I
am aware that the Emir of Kastina has gone ahead to marry out my little
girl without my consent, having received a dowry he is not entitled to
receive, it fills me with so much pain and grief to realize that my
daughter, who will turn 15 this Saturday the 15th may
be celebrating her birthday in a forced marriage. I appeal to all
well-meaning Nigerians and those in authority to help join hands to see
that my daughter is released to me though the violations already done to
her person may be irreversible. I further appeal that the Incident be
well investigated and diligently prosecuted.”
Programme
Coordinator for Stafanos Foundation, Mark Lipdo, a Non-Governmental
Organization assisting the parents with the release of Habiba stated.
“We
have been trying to intervene in the conflicts going on in Nigeria, we
believe in the human rights of all citizens and encourage that
fundamental rights be upheld at all times to maintain a sane society.
Many times we call on the appropriate authorities to act like in the
case of Habiba Isiyaku, such incidents can make conflicts continue in
Nigeria. Habiba is a girl that just completed her Junior Secondary
school and had very good grades, she had so much prospects only to be
abducted, when her parents were invited to the Emirs palaceN she was
brought out in a hijab and he told them that they no longer have any
relationship with the girl anymore because she has been converted to
Islam and that he the Emir of Katsina has now become the father of the
girl and he can do whatever he wants with her. After a few days that the
father was sent back, we followed with the Commissioner of Police to
try to get the girl, we took a lawyer with us as Stefanos Foundation to
stand with the parents to demand for their rights but the rights where
denied, we petitioned the Inspector General (IG) of Police here in
Abuja to see if he can secure the girls release but till date, he is yet
to respond, we brought the parents to Christian Association of Nigeria
(CAN) for help, to see if they can help secure her release and they said
that they will be following the matter up with the IG, but up till
today, nothing, we have been in this town for three days now we have not
heard anything from CAN and the IG. The girl is a minor and things like
this has to stop happening in this country because if it continues,
people are going to result to self-help because where a person has been
told his right but he it has been deliberately refused it, if the person
has any strength, he will result to self-help.”
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