Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force
have rescued three teenage girls, who were abducted in Bauchi State and
forcefully converted to Islam.
The Prison Inmate Development
Initiative, a non-governmental organisation, handling the matter, told
one of our correspondents that the girls were handed over to the
Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 12, Bauchi, Mr. Tunde
Ogunsakin, on Tuesday, by the Shari’ah Commission in the state.
SUNDAY PUNCH had reported on March 6, 2016, that Blessing Gopep, 13, was abducted by two men identified as Iliya and Umaru, both living in Alkaleri, Bauchi State.
Blessing and her friend, Mary, were on
their way back to Jos after spending their holidays with Blessing’s
uncle in Bauchi in August, 2015.
Her father had said Blessing and Mary
had gone to the Alkaleri motor park, and while they waited on the bus
for other passengers, two men, identified as Iliya and Umaru, arrived at
the park on a motorcycle and abducted Blessing.
On November 19, Linda Christopher was abducted by one Mallam Shagari in Tarsha Durumi village, while Progress Jacob,
13, was abducted by Mallam Musa in the Yelwa, Sabon Kaura area, both in
Bauchi State, on her way back from church on January 3.
According to Ms. Gobet, Progress’ aunt,
the teenager went to church on the morning of January 3, 2016 and did
not return when the church was presumed to have closed at about 10.30am.
She was allegedly abducted in the Yelwa,
Sabon Kaura Area of Bauchi State by one Mallam Musa on her way back
from church, which is said to be a few metres away from her aunt’s
residence.
The distressed aunt said she reported
the case to the traditional ruler (Seriki) of Sabon Kaura as well as the
Yelwa Police Station, which only took her statement and directed her to
inform them when she found Progress.
She added that all efforts to locate the
‘missing’ girl proved abortive until a letter was delivered to her from
the Bauchi State Shari’ah Commission, informing her of Progress’
conversion to Islam.
Sixteen-year-old Linda, a secondary
school pupil in Enugu, was seen with one Mallam Shagari at Tarsha Durumi
village in Bauchi State on November 19, 2015.
It was learnt that Linda had left Enugu four days earlier to join her parents, who lived in the Katanga Giwa village of Bauchi.
Her parents were notified of her whereabouts by a kinsman, who knew the family.
Just like the Jacobs, her parents got a
letter from the Shari’a commission, notifying them of their daughter’s
custody and her conversion to Islam.
SUNDAY PUNCH had reported the
failure of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, to rescue
the girls one week after the newspaper had reported the abduction.
The Commissioner of Police, Bauchi State
Police Command, Mr. Baba Tijjani, confirmed the release of the girls in
an interview with The PUNCH on Tuesday.
Tijjani stated, “The girls have been
released. They were not held by the Bauchi State Shari’ah Commission;
they volunteered to become Muslims on their own and reported themselves
to the Da’awah & Islamic Education Department, which took them to
the Bauchi State Shari’ah Commission.
“Now, they have been produced. Progress
Jacob and Linda Christopher have been released to their parents while
Blessing Gopep’s parents have been told to come tomorrow (Wednesday) and
they will go home with their daughter.”
When asked if the case would be treated
as a criminal case and the culprits prosecuted, the police commissioner
said, “We just released the girls to their parents. The investigations
are still ongoing and we will come out with the details after the
investigations.”
The Executive Director, PIDI, Mr. Mbami Sabka, who also confirmed the rescue to The PUNCH on the telephone on Tuesday, said he was glad that effort to rescue the girls was not wasted.
He added that this was the beginning of the release of more child brides.
Sabka said, “I am extremely grateful to
PUNCH newspapers for their help. We hope that other perpetrators would
learn from this. We, as an NGO, won’t stop at this; we will continue the
fight for the release of child brides. An end must be put to this
illegal act.
“The police have asked the Shari’ah
Commission to bring the abductors involved because the girls didn’t walk
to the commission by themselves; someone brought them.”
Blessing’s father, who couldn’t contain
his excitement while speaking on the telephone, said he was very happy
to have his daughter back.
He said, “I have waited so long for this
day to come; it has been my only wish. I just want to thank God for
bringing my daughter back to us. I am extremely happy; words fail me to
express myself. I also want to thank PUNCH newspapers for their help.”
Blessing’s sister, Happiness, said since receiving the news, she had been restless.
“I’m boarding a bus first thing tomorrow to Bauchi. I can’t wait to see my sister,” she stated.
Jacob, who is Progress’ father, stated that he was happy to see his daughter again.
He thanked everyone that helped in his daughter’s release.
He added, “I have informed everyone in
the village about her release; they are all expecting us. We are with
the Commissioner of Police in Bauchi State. My daughter, Progress, is
fine but we are a bit worried about her condition.
“She was asked to identify us as her
parents and she did so by pointing at us but she did not speak to us.
She only shook her head or nodded to questions.
She confirmed she was not sexually
molested by anyone. The commissioner said she would be released to us
when the medical examination has been concluded.”
Linda’s mother, Mrs. Onah, added, “She
looks fine but we have not spoken to each other yet, although we sat
together today. We were told the girls were released because they were
not up to 18 years old and could not make decisions on their own.
“They are undergoing medical
examinations as we speak and we heard the results will be released after
three days. I am happy to see my daughter again.”
PIDI had written letters to the state
Commissioner of Police and the National Human Rights Commission but got
no response before taking the cases to Amnesty International.
No comments:
Post a Comment