Our Correspondent.
It’s barely five years now since 19-Year-Old Jireh David, a promising female Teenager from Fika, the Headquarters of Fika Local Government of Yobe State was forcefully separated from her family by some Islamic fundamentalists who abducted her, converted her to Islam and married her out to one 65-Year-Old Malam Umar Labi, a Resident of Damaturu, Yobe State.
Jireh who was on her way to Mama Hauwa tailoring shop where she was serving as an apprentice was intercepted by unknown men who abducted her and took her to the Palace of a Local Chief, called Sarkin Maigudi, Alhaji Madugu Shawo where she was converted to Islam against her wish and married out to a complete Stranger.
After years of frustrations, pain and agony, Jireh finally called home few days ago on September 14, 2024 to tell her parents that she will be back home soon since her newly acquired life has never given her peace.
Jireh who is now known as Mariam is 24 and blessed with three kids but what she missed mostly are devoted christian life, coming from the home of devoted christian family, the love and affection of her siblings.
One of the victim’s Siblings, Pastor David Titus told pioneer that the family is quite excited to receive back home, a missing member of the family inspite of everything that has happened.
“We’re excited about her home coming since we received her call two days ago. We missed her feminine presence and tenderness in the family. My father and I have done our best to rescue my kid sister from the hands of the heartless Islamist fundamentalists but resigned to fate because of the involvement of powerful traditional rulers and the government.
“My father had the privilege of approaching government functionaries to seek justice but even the governor of the State turned a blind eye. They are all into it. The Ministry of Religious Affairs is at the center of the controversy. It may interest you to know that Hon Yakubu doubles as the Head of Religious Affairs and the member representing Fika East in the Yobe State House of Assembly.
“The traditional rulers, Police and the CID are all part of the system. It’s difficult to fight against the system. The system is rotten; you can hardly get justice.
“When I made trouble for the local chief to release my kid sister whom he has forcefully converted to Islam and kept under his custody in his palace, he quickly transfered my helpless sister to the head of Emirs and Chiefs in Damaturu, the Yobe State Capital who forcefully gave her out into marriage to one, Mohammed Dauda Kaloma.
This is the kind of unmitigated injustices going on in this part of the country.
” I have been to Religious Affairs, the Police, CID, the traditional rulers, the government and powerful individuals but I cannot get justice and let me tell you, the issue of abduction of Christian girls and conducting forceful marriages after their conversion to Islam is almost becoming a daily occurrence in this part of the Country”, he narrated.
Truthnigeria.com investigations revealed that no fewer than seven Christian femaleTeenagers between the ages of sixteen and eighteen have been abducted and forcefully given out into marriage under the same circumstances through the same local chief, Sarkin Mai Gudi.
The recent victim of the atrocities perpetuated by the same local Chief was a 16-Year-old Cecilia Mathias who was abducted and kept in the Palace of the local Chief but when the parents got wind of the action, they mobilized for a rescue mission and took their ward away.
Our Correspondent Reports that this is the fate of many helpless and innocent Teenagers and Christian Parents in Northern Nigeria with little or no efforts by the Nigerian government to stem the growing tide of such kind of evil and religious fundamentalism.
Several attempts to pin down Hon Yakubu of the Yobe State House of Assembly and Head of Yobe Religious Affairs for comments proved abortive as the member was either too busy to attend to Guests or had no time for visitors.
PIONEER NEWS 