The
Nigeria Police Force has 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, said 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.
It was 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.
It was 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 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 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.
“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.
SUNDAY
PUNCH’s
campaign on the abduction of 14-year-old Ese Oruru from Bayelsa State on
February 28 had led to her release within 48 hours from her captivity in the
Tofa area of Kano State.
The
#FreeEse campaign, launched by
PUNCH, had led to Ese’s release and return to Yenagoa, while her abductor,
Yunusa Dahiru, aka Yellow, is currently facing
trial in the Bayelsa State capital
Source:The Punch
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