Barely seven months after the case of Ese Oruru, another high profile forced marriage crisis is brewing.
One Mr Isiyaku Tanko and his family from the Warkaza community in Kudun Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State on Wednesday accused the Emir of Katsina, His Royal Highness, Alhaji AbdulMumin Kabiru Usman of forcefully abducting and marrying their 14 years daughter, Habiba Isiyaku.
The Isiyaku family said the Emir is denying Habiba of her constitutional rights.
It all began on 16th August when Habiba was abducted by an official of Emir of Katsina, identified as Jamilu Lawal, the family said.
Lawyer to Habiba’s father, Barr Yakubu Bawa narrated to journalists in Abuja that he was also manhandled when he tried to secure the girls release.
Bawa blamed the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris and the Katsina State Commissioner of Police, Usman Abdullahi for leting the issue fester.
The lawyer noted that the girl is not yet of legal age to decide for herself so she cannot be forcefully converted to Islam by the Emir of Katsina.
Bawa said the matter escalated after the IG could not help in the issue and Habiba’s father had to seek help from Stefanos Foundation to come to his aid to secure the release of his daughter.
He noted that when the CP summoned the parties concerned in his office, the Emir’s instruction still held sway.
“The commissioner of Police could not even take a position,” Bawa said.
“Unfortunately he succumbed to the instruction of an ordinary detail and release that girl back to the Palace.”
“The CP has failed in his constitutional duties as enshrined in the Police Act.”
When Habiba’s parents went to solicit with the Emir to release their child, she was dressed in Hijab.
“She couldn’t look at her mum and her father. The Emir said since she has converted and there is a big barrier between the parents and their daughter now,” Bawa told journalists.
“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 alleged that the Emir compelled Habiba’s father under duress, 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 said.
He described the abduction and marriage of Habiba a Christian underage child by the Emir of Katsina as vicious, barbaric, callous acts and atrocities done to Christians not only in Katsina but in 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 put 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.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) were said to have failed to show commitment in rescuing Habiba.
“Even when they were contacted in October, they dilly-dallied in their approach and it was discouraging to the family,” Lipdo said.
Chief Executive Officer of Fantastic Mum Nigeria (FMN) Mrs Joy Akanonu pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari and his wife, Hajia Aisha Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in the matter and secure Habiba.
