The family of Isiyaku Tanko of
Warkaza community in Kudun Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State on
Wednesday, October 13, 2016 accused the Emir of Katsina of forcefully abducting
and marrying their 14 years daughter, Habiba Isiyaku, denying her of her
constitutional rights.
Warkaza community in Kudun Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State on
Wednesday, October 13, 2016 accused the Emir of Katsina of forcefully abducting
and marrying their 14 years daughter, Habiba Isiyaku, denying her of her
constitutional rights.
Habiba was said to have been
abducted on the 16th August, 2016 by an official of Emir of Katsina and staff
in the Palace, Jamilu Lawal.
abducted on the 16th August, 2016 by an official of Emir of Katsina and staff
in the Palace, Jamilu Lawal.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja,
father of Habiba, Isiyaku Tanko who spoke through his lawyer, Yakubu Bawa
decried the manner which the Emir Palace manhandled him in his attempt to
secure his daughter.
father of Habiba, Isiyaku Tanko who spoke through his lawyer, Yakubu Bawa
decried the manner which the Emir Palace manhandled him in his attempt to
secure his daughter.
Speaking on the matter, Bawa
said: “Because she is under a guardian and the control of her parents, now
until she clocks 18 that’s the age of maturity and accountability. The second
point is that Habiba cannot be forcefully converted to Islam by the Emir of
Katsina, His Royal Highness, Alhaji AbdulMumin Kabiru Usman
said: “Because she is under a guardian and the control of her parents, now
until she clocks 18 that’s the age of maturity and accountability. The second
point is that Habiba cannot be forcefully converted to Islam by the Emir of
Katsina, His Royal Highness, Alhaji AbdulMumin Kabiru Usman
“He has no right to do that.
The
third point to look at is the fact that the commissioner of Police; this was a
helpless man, a vulnerable man that called Stefanos Foundation to come to his
aid to secure the release of his daughter.
third point to look at is the fact that the commissioner of Police; this was a
helpless man, a vulnerable man that called Stefanos Foundation to come to his
aid to secure the release of his daughter.
“And when the CP summoned the
parties concerned in his office, what baffled me and my heart is still bleeding
is the fact that ordinary security detail gave an instruction that Emir has
instructed him that when the girl was brought to his office that he’s under
instruction to bring back the girl to the of Palace of the Emir.”
parties concerned in his office, what baffled me and my heart is still bleeding
is the fact that ordinary security detail gave an instruction that Emir has
instructed him that when the girl was brought to his office that he’s under
instruction to bring back the girl to the of Palace of the Emir.”
“And yet the CP that who has the
entire command under his control could not even take a position but
unfortunately succumbed to the instruction of an ordinary detail and release
that girl back to the Palace.
entire command under his control could not even take a position but
unfortunately succumbed to the instruction of an ordinary detail and release
that girl back to the Palace.
“He instructed the man to go the
Palace the following day and receive his daughter. For me, with due respect,
the CP has failed in his constitutional duties as enshrined in the Police Act.
Palace the following day and receive his daughter. For me, with due respect,
the CP has failed in his constitutional duties as enshrined in the Police Act.
“On reaching the Emir Police, all
that this man will be confronted with was for him to sit on the floor and the
Emir demand to introduce the matter through his aide, the Kilishin Katsina to
tell him that, come, since your daughter has converted, she came with Hijab.
She couldn’t look at her mum and her father.
that this man will be confronted with was for him to sit on the floor and the
Emir demand to introduce the matter through his aide, the Kilishin Katsina to
tell him that, come, since your daughter has converted, she came with Hijab.
She couldn’t look at her mum and her father.
He said since she has converted,
there is a big barrier between you and your daughter now.
there is a big barrier between you and your daughter now.
“The man said if my daughter has
converted to Islam, give me my daughter to go and practice her newly found
faith in my house. The Kilishin Katsina said no, that it’s not possible.”
converted to Islam, give me my daughter to go and practice her newly found
faith in my house. The Kilishin Katsina said no, that it’s not possible.”
Bawa stated “the Emir then said
that the man has committed a crime, he was compelled under duress, in this
statement, they forced the man to say that the complaint he made to the police
was not true. He left the palace shattered, broken, helpless and emotional
broken.
that the man has committed a crime, he was compelled under duress, in this
statement, they forced the man to say that the complaint he made to the police
was not true. He left the palace shattered, broken, helpless and emotional
broken.
“Habiba is about clocking two
months now in captivity” Bawa described
“the abduction and procurement of a Christian minor, Habiba Isiyaku by
the Emir of Katsina as vicious, barbaric, callous acts and atrocities done to
Christians not only in katsina but the entire north west of Nigeria.”
months now in captivity” Bawa described
“the abduction and procurement of a Christian minor, Habiba Isiyaku by
the Emir of Katsina as vicious, barbaric, callous acts and atrocities done to
Christians not only in katsina but the entire north west of Nigeria.”
Also speaking, an official of
Stefanos Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, Mark Lipdo decried
the pain the family have been going
through since the forceful abduction of their daughter.
Stefanos Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, Mark Lipdo decried
the pain the family have been going
through since the forceful abduction of their daughter.
Lipdo further stated that
“Habiba is expected to clock 15 years on
Saturday, October, 15 2016 and would have resume school in the new
academic term.”
“Habiba is expected to clock 15 years on
Saturday, October, 15 2016 and would have resume school in the new
academic term.”
He said Habiba passed her Junior secondary school
examination in flying colours and was expected to start Senior Secondary
School (SSS1) this new term.
examination in flying colours and was expected to start Senior Secondary
School (SSS1) this new term.
It was also revealed that
attempts to make the IG of Police, Idris
intervene in the matter received no positive response from Police
Headquarters in Abuja.
attempts to make the IG of Police, Idris
intervene in the matter received no positive response from Police
Headquarters in Abuja.
Mr Idris also failed to respond
to the letter forwarded to his office calling on the Police to secure Habiba
from her abductors and Emir Palace.
to the letter forwarded to his office calling on the Police to secure Habiba
from her abductors and Emir Palace.
To make matter worst, the
Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) were said to have failed to show
commitment in rescuing Habiba. Even when they were contacted in October, the
dilly-dally approach adopted discourage the family from pushing forward.
Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) were said to have failed to show
commitment in rescuing Habiba. Even when they were contacted in October, the
dilly-dally approach adopted discourage the family from pushing forward.
Also speaking, chief executive
officer of Fantastic Mum Nigeria, FMN, Joy Akanonu pleaded with President
Muhammadu Buhari and the wife of the president, Aisha Buhari to intervene and
secure Habiba.
officer of Fantastic Mum Nigeria, FMN, Joy Akanonu pleaded with President
Muhammadu Buhari and the wife of the president, Aisha Buhari to intervene and
secure Habiba.
