₦airaland Forum

The issues is generating controversy here and there; some say she was brain-washed and forced to abandon her first religion, Christianity and accept Islam by a Northern traditional ruler.

What actually transpired? Below is what she said about what that has happened to her:

The conversion to Islam of 25-year-old Charity Uzoechina, daughter of Pastor Raymond Uzoechina of the Redeem Christian Church of God, Kwankwashe, Suleja, continues to generate controversy.

Her father accused the Estu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubukar, of hypnotizing his daughter, who has since changed her name to A’isha, to embrace Islam. A’isha, who hails from Asaba, Delta State, came to Abuja at the age of 10 when her father relocated from Lagos.

After her secondary school education at Army Day Secondary School Asokoro, Abuja she got admission into Federal Polytechnic, Bida to read Public Administration. She, however, withdrew from the course in her first year. She embraced Islam on February 15, 2013. A’isha said since her family relocated to Suleja, Niger State, she has been in the midst of Muslims, which accorded her the opportunity to have several Muslims friends and learnt a lot about Islam.

The travails of A’isha began when she ran to the Estu Nupe’s palace in Bida on March 1, this year to seek protection against any aggression she may face should her family know about her conversion to Islam. This led to a controversy that is still ongoing.

A’isha has dragged her own father, a Pastor, to a Shariah court in Bida, Niger State. The court is expected to rule on August 1, 2013 whether or not she should be released to her parents or not.

She speaks exclusively to Weekly Trust. Excerpts:

What is your name?
Aisha Uzoechina: I was formerly known as Charity Uzoechina and now A’isha Uzoechina. Why the change of name? I changed my name because I have accepted Islam.

What brought you to Bida?
I came to Bida in 2012 to read Public Administration at the Federal Polytechnic, Bida.

Are you still a student of Federal Polytechnic Bida?
No, I am not. I have withdrawn from the school.

Did you go back home?
No, I did not go home. At the beginning I was planning to go back home, because I wanted to tell my father that I have converted to Islam. When I converted, I was afraid to tell my parents, because of the way my father would behave. I know he will not take it lightly with me. So, for that I refused to go back home.

Did anybody force or enticed you to join Islam?
I joined Islam on my own. Nobody enticed me with anything to join Islam. What informed your decision to join Islam? I converted to Islam because I love the character of Muslims, particularly the way they behave. You know Muslims believe in God. I have Muslim friends and I watch what they do, that enticed me to join Islam. I used to read Qur’an when I was a Christian. I always join them to read Qur’an and through that I found out that it is the same one God they worship. So I embraced Islam.

How did your father come to know about your change of faith?
When I ran to the palace, I told you, it was very difficult before I could see the Emir. When I saw him, the emir refused to accept me, because my father did not know about it. He, therefore, collected my father’s number from me and called him. The following day my father came and said he wanted to see me. When we met we talked one on one.

What did you tell him?
Well the Emir told him that I have converted to Islam. When my father talked to me, he said let’s go home, but I refused. I told him that I will not change my faith, because I have already accepted Islam and this is where I want to stay. He, therefore, threatened me so much so that I became scared of him.

What did he do to you amounting to a threat?
In the first place you know, I put on Hijab (veil), he said I should remove the Hijab. He was angry and used some harsh words on me, directing that I should remove the Hijab, but I refused. He threatened to take me to a village where nobody will set his eyes on me. So I became scared of him, therefore I refused to follow him. That is it.

Did the Emir intervene?
The emir gave him one week to come back, but he came back even before it reached one week. He said he must take me home. He will not take me to our house, but he’ll take me to somewhere that nobody will set his eyes on me. I quickly ran back to the emir and to the Shari’a Court for protection. I don’t want to go back to my father, because he is threatening me.

How did you come to know about the Shari’a Court?
I found out from people. I went to them on my own to formally lodge my complaint.

Why Shari’a Court?
They have to protect me. You know when you take a case to court over life threatening issue, the court must protect you. That is it.

Did your father come back after you refused to follow him?
He came back. He kept on coming back. The other time he even threatened to bring some people to kidnap me.

Is it true that at a time your father came with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) officials to you?
Yes.

Is it true that you also went to the Jama’atul Nasril Islam (JNI)?
Yes.

Why did you go to JNI?
I told you and I’ll still repeat it, though I don’t want to repeat my words again. I want them to intervene on my behalf, the threat is too much. Now I can’t go anywhere, I cannot even continue with my schooling. I cannot do anything because of the way he has been threatening me. He is still bringing people up till now to keep watch on me.

How do you know that your father has assigned people to keep watch on you?
There was a time that I wanted to go out, information came to me that my father was around and I had to stay back since I don’t want him to take me away. I know that if I gout anytime,I he’ll pick me up.

How did you come to know about JNI?
I have been reading about them. That is why I went to them.

How did you present your case to JNI?
I wrote to them seeking for their intervention, because I do not know how to go about convincing my father. I also learnt that the emir wanted to hand me over to my father, because the burden of my case is becoming too much for him to bear.

If your father should promise to allow you to practice your new faith, will you go with him? I’ll not. In a family that you are the only Muslim, how can you practice in that house?
You know when he (my father) came along with my mother the other time, his actions and the harsh words he used, even if I go back home, my life will not be secured in his hand. That is why I said I’ll not go.

Did you start learning anything about Islam?
Yes, I started learning how to perform ablution. I have learnt how to recite Surah Al-Fatihah, I am now in my second surah.

Do you pray five times a day?
Yes I do. I am even fasting now. I have been fasting since the beginning of the month of Ramadan.

What is your massage to people wanting to join Islam?
I have only one massage. Islam is good. Muslims are truthful, everything they say, they believe in God and they carry people along. Once a person converted to Islam, he’ll be carried along until he is strong to stand on his own.

What is your appeal to your parent?
I am appealing to my parents not to be angry with me. My conversion to Islam will not separate us. I still love them, even though I am here. They can come and visit me and I can also visit them. They shouldn’t think my new faith will take away the love I have for them. It will not. I am very sorry

The Military Joint Task Force, MJTF, ‘Operation Restore Order’ in Maiduguri, the Borno State, yesterday alerted of plans by the Boko Haram Islamic sect to launch massive attacks during the Eid-el fitr celebrations.

JTF spokesman, Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa, in a statement yesterday warned residents of Borno, especially the Maiduguri metropolis and Jere Local Government to be security conscious during the celebrations.

Sagir said: “In the continued efforts to destroy all acts of terrorism in Borno State, the Joint Task Force, JTF, wishes to alert citizens and residents of the state of the impending plans by Boko Haram to carry out massive attacks and bombings in Maiduguri metropolis and other parts of Borno State any moment from now and during the Eid-el- Fitr Sallah celebration.”

He advised residents to be more concerned and vigilant about the happenings in and around their immediate environments.

“The public are also reminded to be cautious and to report any suspicious movement, actions and abandoned objects in public places, particularly those in polythene bags and other sacks to the nearest security checkpoints for immediate action.

“The JTF further reminds the people of Borno State that although the curfew has been reviewed to 11p.m. to 6a.m. daily, checks are continuously being conducted throughout the night to ensure safety, security of lives and properties as well as consolidating on the successes recorded so far in our collective fight against terrorism,” Sagir stated.

Also yesterday, the Inspector- General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, said the war on terror was far from being won, nearly three months since a state of emergency was declared in three states in the North-East.

He hailed security forces for placing their lives on the line to fight organised terror gangs, stressing however that the occasional resurgence of terror attacks in some parts of the country were sad reminders that the battle was not yet over.

The IGP, who spoke in Abuja at a security review meeting with AIGs in charge of zones and formations across the federation, urged police officers, particularly assistant inspectors- general of police, AIGs, to wake up from their “perceived slumber” and tackle headlong the wave of insecurity in their zones. “Daily situation reports bear sad testimonies to this phenomenon.

In spite of the emergency rule in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, the insurgents still inflict untold hardships on peace-loving and innocent residents of these states.

“The explosion in Sabon- Gari area of Kano metropolis is another painful reminder that the war against terrorism is not over yet,” Abubakar said.

The police boss said that apart from redoubling their efforts, all AIGs must restructure their existing crime-fighting architecture to ensure that their zones, commands and formations are kept safe and secure.

He said ahead of the Eidil- Fitr celebrations and the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in Anambra and Ekiti states, police officers must step up their game and ensure that security is provided fully in such areas.

The IG’s statement came even as the Defence Headquarters said its Special Forces and their Nigerien counterparts had succeeded in foiling attempts by some fleeing Boko Haram members to regroup and launch vicious attacks in the border areas between Nigeria and Niger Republic.

Director, Defence Information, Brig- Gen. Chris Olukolade, who stated this in Abuja yesterday, explained that the group had aimed to regroup, procure a large cache of arms and launch fresh attacks in some parts of the country. He said that Special Forces also captured a top Boko Haram commander and his accomplices.

Although, he did not disclose their identities, Olukolade said they were currently being interrogated to determine their level of involvement in terrorism.

“The plan by a band of terrorists who relocated to Niger Republic to remobilise and re-arm insurgents with the aim of carrying out fresh terrorists attacks on some Nigerian communities has been foiled.

“The leader of the group, who had fled Nigeria when the terrorist camps were sacked, was reportedly recruiting fresh hands and training them for renewed terrorist activities in Nigeria. “The intention of the group is to focus its attacks on some towns around the Nigeria-Niger Republic border,” he said.

The spokesman added that intelligence operatives of the MNJTF had been on the trail of the leader until he was eventually arrested in Karanga, Niger Republic, at the weekend with the cooperation of the Nigerien forces.

In Kano State, business activities have remained low in the commercial city, even as residents in Sabon Gari, with an estimated three million population, are still gripped by fear, following the devastating bomb attacks on Monday, which left over 40 people dead. Also, fun seekers have abandoned the various cool spots since the incident.

National Mirror’s findings revealed that most of the fun spots in Sabon Gari, especially those located on Enugu and New Road, remained shut. The areas with large concentration of beer parlours and other entertainment and hospitality establishments have been deserted since the bomb attacks.

As at the time of this report, tempers were still high particularly in the Sabon Gari with police and soldiers conducting regular patrols in the area since the devastating incident.

It was also gathered that residents have started erecting security barricades on their streets as part of the measures to fortify the area against further attacks.

Meanwhile, the President, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, yesterday said that the Kano bomb explosions were a testimony that the Boko Haram terrorists were not interested in the olive branch being extended to them by the Federal Government.

Oritsejafor, who condemned the latest bomb explosions, described the killing of non-indigenes as a calculated attempt to annihilate Nigerians who profess faiths other than Islam.

The CAN president, in a statement in Abuja, said that with the spate of deadly attacks continuing unabated even with the constitution of the Amnesty Committee, President Goodluck Jonathan should consider the handshake offered to the Islamic militant group as having extended beyond the elbow.

He said the Boko Haram sect was becoming more untrustworthy and that the latest killings of nonindigenes and Christians in their places of worship had further stirred the sensibilities of the people.

21-year-old woman, Rebecca Bassey, has been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly beating her husband’s three-year-old niece, Deborah Bassey, to death.

According to police authorities, the suspect beat up the girl because she vomited and defecated on herself.


A police source told PUNCH Metro on Thursday that the incident occurred at Ijaiye Ojokoro area of the state on July 22, 2013.

He said, “The victim (Deborah) lost her mother in 2010. Early this year, Deborah’s father was evicted from his home and he decided to send Deborah and his second child to go and stay with his brother, Vincent, until he settles down.

“Deborah and her nine-year-old sister were living with Vincent and his wife, Rebecca, in a one-room apartment at Powerline, Jankara, Ijaiye Ojokoro. However, Rebecca was always maltreating the two children.”

According to police investigations, on the day of the incident, Deborah woke up around 5.30am with a high temperature.

The three-year-old girl was said to have started vomiting and defecating soon after. This was said to have angered Rebecca, who instead of administering treatment to the child, decided to beat her up.

A police source said, “In the process of beating the girl, the suspect pushed her and she fell, hitting her head against the edge of a wooden chair in the room.”

PUNCH Metro learnt that the victim started to bleed from the head. Some neighbours rushed her to Ahmadiyya Hospital, where she was referred to Orile Agege General Hospital where she later died.
A woman leader in the area, Kudirat Ogunseyi, was said to have reported the matter to Ijaye Ojokoro Police Division after which the suspect was arrested.

Some neighbours, in their statements at the police station, described the suspect as a hot-tempered woman, who was fond of beating the children.

“The way that woman beats up the children was very worrying to the extent that the landlord had threatened to evict them,” one of the statements reads.

Vincent told the police that he was not present when his wife beat his niece to death.

“I was not at home when the incident happened. I am a photographer during daytime but I work as a vigilante group member. So I hardly sleep at home,” he said.


The suspect however said she did not kill the victim deliberately. She said she only pushed Deborah and she hit her head against the chair.

“I am a housewife and I have a 10-month-old baby. I did not mean to kill her (Deborah). I only pushed her because she vomited and defecated on the floor. I was only trying to correct her. It was not deliberate. I am a mother too and I know how I would feel if my son was killed,” she said.

It was learnt that the matter had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba.
A source at the SCID said the police were waiting for autopsy. He added that if other wounds were found on other parts of the victim’s body, it would prove that the victim was indeed tortured before her death.

When contacted on the telephone, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, said she would call back.

punch.ng.com

another yerima family.

let him rot in jail.

front page pls this is very important for my fellow student.

contract nah.wetin una go chop after wedding.the ceremony can always wait

even if he makes amend,he has Bleep up already nothing for him.

chinko people and there madness.

why them no flog her flat yarnsh.

i trust nija people them no dey carry last

OK PLS GOOGLE IS YOUR FRIEND.

ASK HIM

GUY EITHER YOU ARE USING 3310 OR NO NETWORK FOR UR AREA.

PLS UPGRADE UR STATUS NAH.THE SECTION IS VERY VERY ACCESSABLE

wetin do the screen

morin= safe

noon =rana

night=dare

eveny=yamma or marache

ok.nice score but expect more goals

i support you symphony,just disgusting and i wonder how they really feel in the bathroom

just get a sharp lawyer and sue them.


one of the staff must have leak up card number to a fraudster

but brother make sure u are clean.i.e either ur brother,cousin,or any of ur relative have not defrauded you.

well i think before engagement is just the right choice.then if any lagabu or surprise happens u can know how to handle it maturedly.dont forget weeks before weeding do onoda one to be on the safer side.

guy dont try it oh.dont let her to also teach you how to spend your money.

Lordave: These youths should for once act matured and civillized.
Northerners are among the ethnic groups benefiting more from the integration of this country and should be very carefull not to do anything more that may cause unnecessary chaos among Nigerians which could lead to its' disintegration.
They should avert the repetition 1956 Kano riots if they are wise.

shut up ur smelling mouth.do we still look like those in the 1960.

pls weak up this is 20th century

ahahhahaahhaaah i really dont even know what to comment because i don carry laugh kill my self


really that guy need to see a dotor.

he must be really sick and needs help.

then i think chelsea will suffer more than relegation

see chelsea fan wan compear him self with man united. even arsenal no be una mate.

are you also a patient of yaba left.where is the joke now

thank god i can now call my baby

anoda yaba left patient.

mad man

sorry eh

abeg make the no disgrace our first lady.she is a graudate of ............


emm let me google it

anoda yaba left patient.

senseless of the highest

what dose a child knows.person we dey enjoy him milk.

she need to be stab 90 times so that she can feel the pain.

Asalamu alikum brothers in isalm,

pls i want to travel from birnin kebbi to sokoto and come back that same day.

pls can i fast that day.

jazakalahu khairan