Police rescue three stolen Bauchi girls

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have rescued three teenage girls, who were abducted in Bauchi State and forcefully converted to Islam.

Police Inspector General, Solomon Arase

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.

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.

Police rescue three stolen Bauchi girls

Another 14-yr-old Benue girl abducted in Sokoto

MAKURDI— Relations of another missing 14-year-old girl, Patience Paul, have alleged that the primary six pupil of Mohammed Zako Model Primary School, Sokoto, may have been abducted and housed at the palace of the Sultan of Sokoto.

Father of the girl, Mr. Paul Adaji, an indigene of Ochobo in Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State, told Vanguard on phone that his daughter had been missing since August 12, 2015.

Adaji, who resides in Sokoto with his family, alleged that some persons spotted his daughter at the Sultan’s palace.

He said: “We got information that she was in the Sultan’s palace and the last time we went there, we did not find her.” When asked how they knew she was at the palace, he said: “Some people told us that they saw her at the palace.

They also used to camp some of them there, that was why we went to the palace to see if she has been taken there.

“Even her friend, who used to be a Christian, was found there. She was taken there and they converted her. “We will still continue to search for her.

We will not give up; we only want the world to help us so that our daughter can be released to us.” Brother’s story Corroborating Mr. Adaji’s story, his son, Paul Isaac Adaji, gave an account of circumstances that led to the disappearance of his sister.

He said: “Patience is my younger sister. We are based in Sokoto. That is where the issue occurred. My dad is in Sokoto but we lost our mother two years ago. My younger sister was brain-washed from school, Mohammed Zako Model Primary school, Sokoto.

She is a primary six pupil. “The fact is that sometime last year, we noticed she started keeping some funny friends and her attitude started changing. This is a girl that normally likes attending church activities. “We cautioned her but along the line, she changed. Then again, she started misbehaving. So at that point, my parent and I decided to move her out of Sokoto and return her to Benue State so the rumours of children converting does not happen to us as we do not have anybody to fight for us.

“Unfortunately, what we were scared of later happened to us. Sometimes we will see her returning from school with a veil covering her head. When we inquired, she said it was given to her by her friend in school.

“We cautioned her on several occasions. But we later arranged with my dad to get her back to Benue. Unfortunately, she got to know about our plan to send her back to Benue and obviously informed the people who were brainwashing her and they eventually abducted her.

“When we could not see her, we started serious investigation and along the line, discovered that it was one of our neighbours who actually abducted her.

Hisbah takes over “We reported the matter to the police. The masterminds of her abduction were invited by the Police. They made their confessions that the girl wanted to join their religion, which was why they abducted her. They said they took her to the Hisbah (Islamic Police).

“At that point, the Police invited the Hisbah and they came and gave their own statement. They said they had taken the girl to the Sultan’s palace. I was hoping that since the police had stepped in, my sister would come home.

“But that did not happen. I reported the matter at the Police Headquarters in Sokoto, but it was transferred to our Area Division. So after the interrogations, the Police said since I reported the matter at the headquarters, their findings will also be communicated to the headquarters.

“Two weeks later, I went to the police headquarters here in Sokoto only for the police to tell us that we should just go and maintain peace. I became inquisitive and wanted to know what the police found that prompted that advice. Bishop Kukah steps in

“It was at that point that I reported the matter to Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah. He was very angry with us, saying we ought to have reported the matter to him earlier.

“He made some calls and promised to step into the matter. I became restless and worried because the Bishop is a very busy person. We are urging and pleading with all well-meaning Nigerians to help us intervene. “From what we gathered, from last year up to early this year, she was in the Sultan’s palace, but she has been taken away from there since last month.

“‘We went there with my other sister to check and they brought a different person to us. From our investigations, she is not the only one because the two girls they brought did not look like real Muslims.”

Meanwhile, calls to Bishop Kukah to find out the veracity of claims that the matter was reported to him at a point were not responded to. Source confirm palace connection However, a source in Sokoto told Vanguard that the girl was actually abducted and kept at the Sultan’s palace.

The source also noted that the teenager was not the only person abducted and hidden at the palace, adding that three other girls were in the palace.

The source said: “What is happening is not new; it is a common occurrence in Sokoto and Katsina. Christian teenage girls are often abducted and hidden in such places.

“Patience is not the only victim. Three other girls were found to have been abducted and kept at the palace. There is an Ibo girl among the three.”

Reacting to the development yesterday, Sokoto State Commissioner of Police, Salisu Fagge, said: “It is not true. I have not received such report from anybody.

We relate very well with the palace and Bishop Kukah and such report has never come to me. “If we had got it, we would have taken prompt action. Please ask the man to see me in the office without delay if what he is saying is true.”

Another 14-yr-old Benue girl abducted in Sokoto

Boko Haram New Video: Abubakar Shekau threatens to attack Sanusi Lamido

Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, has threatened to attack the Emir of Kano, Muhummadu Sanusi II, in retaliation for the Emir’s call on Kano residents and other Nigerians to arm and defend themselves against the terror organization.

Emir Sanusi Lamido

In a new video released weekend, Mr. Shekau said his group does not consider Mr. Sanusi a true Muslim, and will attack him whenever an opportunity presents itself.

The Emir had earlier issued a call to arms after a series of deadly attacks by suspected Boko Haram militants in Kano.

Speaking at Kano’s central Mosque in October, the Emir charged the people of Kano to arm and defend themselves against the sect, which is responsible for more than 13,000 deaths.

Militants later launched a deadly assault on the Mosque on Friday, November 28, detonating multiple bombs and shooting worshippers to death.

Over 100 people died in the attack which was believed targeted at Mr. Sanusi.

The Emir, who had travelled out of Nigeria at the time, visited the Mosque on his return, and re-affirmed his vow that the Kano people will not cower in the face of Boko Haram’s threats.

In a 19-minute new video first released Saturday, Mr. Shekau did not claim responsibility for the Mosque attack.

But he said his group remains prepared to fight and kill anyone who challenges its ideology, and all non-Muslims and “fake” Muslims like the emir.

“Before I start talking to my brothers who believed in me and the religion of Allah not the religion of democracy, not that of western education, those who believed in the religion of the Quran not that of the constitution and not religion of the Emir of Kano Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Jonathan, Obasanjo, Atiku, Babangida, Obama, Bush, Clinton, but the religion of Allah,” he said.

“Now listen to me Emir of Kano. I am talking to you and only you because of your recent utterances.

“Let me inform you now that you are late, you are should know that you are only but the King of Kano, King of Central Bank, King of money, you are only Sanusi Lamido,” he said.

Mr. Shekau denounced the Emir’s religion as religion based on constitution, idol worship and homosexuality.

“Our own government is defined as government of the Allah by the Allah and for the Allah not as you define you own government as the government of the people by the people and for the people,” he said.

Mr. Shekau said his group will fight local vigilantes and hunters, who have successfully crushed the advances of its fighters in some parts of Nigeria’s northeast.

“Emir of Kano Sanusi you are late, that our triumph is just for a period of time so you said. Even your predecessors who are renowned idol worshipers in Islamic history like ‘Abujahal’ could not succeed fighting Islam.

Yes you can say that our success is for a period of time, because you are a king of Bank and a loyal citizen of his country,” Mr. Shekau said.

The terrorist leader said his members are ready to be slaughtered and killed so they can rest in heaven.

“Because you are made the Emir of Kano that is why you got angry and was calling on the Vigilante groups and hunters to attack us. Let me tell you that the hunters and the vigilante groups will fail and you will also fail,” he said.

He condemned all other Islamic sects in the country calling them pagans.

He said the Izala, Tijjaniyya, Qadiriyya and Shiite Islamic groups are pagans and his group will continue to kill their followers.

He also condemned the government Saudi Arabia saying they will all perish in hell.

“We will kill you people, we will capture hostages and keep selling some.”

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Boko Haram New Video: Abubakar Shekau threatens to attack Sanusi Lamido

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