The
Emir of Kastina has been involved in a huge controversy after he was
accused of aiding a man who forcefully converted and married a
14-year-old girl he kidnapped.
Emir of Kastina has been involved in a huge controversy after he was
accused of aiding a man who forcefully converted and married a
14-year-old girl he kidnapped.
The Emir of Katsina, Abdulmumini Usman has been accused of marrying off, fourteen year old Habiba Isiyaku to her kidnapper.
According to The Nation,
the father of the the fourteen year-old, Mal. Isiyaku Tanko said
Isiyaku was kidnapped from Government Senior Secondary School, Kudun
Kankara, Kastina State by one Jamilu Lawal and was forcefully converted
to Islam and married off by the Emir without her parents consent.
the father of the the fourteen year-old, Mal. Isiyaku Tanko said
Isiyaku was kidnapped from Government Senior Secondary School, Kudun
Kankara, Kastina State by one Jamilu Lawal and was forcefully converted
to Islam and married off by the Emir without her parents consent.
The man said this during a press conference in Abuja, alleged
through the help of Stefanos Foundation that 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.
through the help of Stefanos Foundation that 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 accused the Emir of conspiring with the man to sell off his daughter after forcefully converting her to Islam.
He added that the Emir had informed him that his daughter had been
converted to Islam and he had received the sum of N50, 000.00 as dowry
from Jamilu Ibrahim, he also said the Emir had informed him that he will
marry Habiba off to Jamilu in accordance with islamic rites and
injunctions.
converted to Islam and he had received the sum of N50, 000.00 as dowry
from Jamilu Ibrahim, he also said the Emir had informed him that he will
marry Habiba off to Jamilu in accordance with islamic rites and
injunctions.
His words, “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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.”