The family of Mr Isiyaku Tanko of Warkaza community in Kudun Kankara Local
Government Area of Katsina State, Nigeria has accused the Emir of
Katsina, home state of President Mohammadu Buhari 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.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja, father of Habiba, Mr IsiyakuTanko who
spoke through his lawyer, Barr Yakubu Bawa decried the manner with which
he was dealt with, in an attempt to secure his daughter.
He also complained about the mishandling of the matter by both the
Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris and the Katsina State
Commissioner of Police, Usman Abdullahi.
Speaking on the matter, Barr 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.
“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.
“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.”
“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.
“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.
“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. He said since she has converted, 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.”
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.
“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.”
Also speaking, an official of Stefanos Foundation, a non-governmental
organisation (NGO), Mr 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, 15th October, 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.
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.
Mr Idris, he said, also failed to respond to the letter forwarded to his
office calling on the Police to secure Habiba from her abductors and Emir
Palace.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) were said to have filed 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) Mrs
Joy Akanonu pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari and the Wife of the
President, Hajia Aisha Muhammadu Buhari to intervene and secure Habiba.