₦airaland Forum

http://www.punchng.com/bauchi-sharia-body-holds-enugu-girl-11-two-years/

Bauchi Sharia body holds Enugu girl, 11, for two years

When Mr. Christopher Oshi, of Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State, decided to allow his daughter, Blessing, to go and live with a relative, Jonathan Michael Ogbonna, in Jos, Plateau State, in 2012, there were no indications that the move would, with time, result in an unbearable tragedy for his family.

Blessing was nine years old at the time, and it was expected that the relocation to Jos would expose her to a better life in the household of her uncle, who is also married with children.

It was expected that, when in Jos, Blessing would help look after her uncle’s little children, and also go to school.
Initially, everything went according to plan. Blessing arrived in Jos and started school in one of the primary schools in the Dangi area of the city, where her uncle lives.She also helped to look after the uncle’s little children.

Blessing was described as an obedient, reserved and shy, dutiful girl who did all that was expected of her without any fuss. Her mother, Elizabeth, also said she was a happy girl.

However, the story changed suddenly, on the Sallah day in 2014.

She went missing. The uncle, Michael, searched for her everywhere and even beyond their community but all efforts proved abortive. But, about a week later, Michael received a call – from an official of the Bauchi State Sharia Commission, who told him that the girl was in Bauchi.

The official informed Michael that Blessing had ‘willingly’ converted to Islam. Interestingly, the official referred to Blessing as ‘Hajara’, which they were told was Islamic name she was given following the conversion.

The Bauchi State Sharia Commission official, whose identity was not disclosed to our correspondent, reportedly told Blessing’s uncle that the girl converted to Islam on August 8, 2014, following which she brought herself before the commission through Da’awah Council Committee members, a non-governmental Islamic organisation.

Blessing was equally alleged to have reported to the commission that Michael had refused to allow her to practise her new religion.

Also, a letter was addressed to Blessing’s father, Christopher Oshi, and the uncle/guardian, Jonathan Michael Ogbonna, by the Bauchi State Sharia Commission, apparently to notify them of the new development, particularly the commission’s decision to place Blessing in the custody of the Da’awah Council Committee.

A copy of the letter, bearing the letter head of the Bauchi State Shariah Commission, No. 3 Darazo Road, Old GRA, Bauchi, and dated August 8, 2014, was made available to our correspondent.

The letter, read, “The bearer, Hajara Christopher Blessing, brought herself before Shariah Commission through Da’awah Council Committee members reporting her conversion to Islam willingly.

“According to her statement that she wanted to practise (Islam) because she embraced Islam on her own wish sometimes in 8/8/2014 and she requested the commission to intervene.

“In view of the above, Shariah Commission has handed her custody to the Da’awah Council Bauchi pending the time things are sorted out with her parent, Mr. Christopher Oshi.” The letter was signed by Muh’d Hadi Aliyu, Acting Director, Da’awah Council, Education Department, for Chairman.

Blessing, or Hajara, has not returned to her parents, or her uncle, since her ‘conversion’ to Islam in August 2014. Since that unfortunate development, her family members have borne their agony in silence.

But they decided to speak out, for the first time, in an encounter with our correspondent in Enugu.
Anybody that is meeting Mr. Christopher Oshi, Blessing’s father, and his wife, Elizabeth, for the first time would not need to be told that the couple are suffering.

Agony, grief, despair, helplessness – these were literally written on their faces, as our correspondent observed at a meeting with the couple in Enugu. The couple were in company with a younger relative, Ajuro Felix, during the encounter.

It was difficult getting the couple to speak up – two years of helpless suffering had taken a heavy toll on them.
They appeared beaten and dejected. It was obvious that the shocking developments surrounding their daughter had equally affected their health.

Christopher, the father, was apparently battling some major health challenges, and he admitted that sleepless nights and unceasing anxiety over the fate of his daughter had robbed him of any form of joy over the last two years.
The man nearly broke down in tears at the commencement of the encounter with our correspondent, when he was asked to narrate what happened to Blessing.

After some awkward moments, the aggrieved father said, “Blessing is my third child, and in 2012, she was taken to Jos, Plateau State by my brother, Jonathan Michael. She is 13 years old now.

“At some point in 2014, my brother told us that Blessing was missing but after some time, he informed us that she had been found.

“He said she was with a Shariah court in Bauchi State, and they wrote to accuse him (my brother) of refusing to allow Blessing to become a Muslim.”

But he explained that, even though her family members had gone to meet her where she is living in in Bauchi, she had refused to return home. For reasons that are not clear, she insisted on remaining with the Da’awah Council, having ‘converted’ to Islam.

Continuing, Blessing’s father said the initial joy expressed by the family over reports that the missing girl had been found quickly turned to shock and despair when she refused to return home.

“My brother said he went to the Sharia Commission, where Blessing was being kept, in Bauchi, to bring her home, but she refused to follow him. “When my brother insisted on taking her with him, they asked if he was her father, he said no and they said he should bring the father,” he added.

Following the development, Michael came to the village and returned to Bauchi with Blessing’s father and two other men, including Ajuro Felix. Felix, who took over the narration at this point, said they were shocked when they saw Blessing dressed in a hijab in Bauchi.

Felix said, “Three of us travelled from the village to Bauchi – Blessing’s father, me and one of our in laws, Sylvester Ozoanya. “When we got to Bauchi, after a long wait, she was brought out from the Sharia court where she was being kept. “They asked if she knew us, she identified us but refused to follow us home.

“We were there for about seven hours – at a point, while we were pleading with her to come home with us, we called a man of God to pray so that she could change her mind.

“But Blessing did not change her mind, she was not saying anything reasonable – she just kept saying that she didn’t want to go back home with us.”

Felix added that, at a point during the bitter encounter with Blessing in Bauchi, the father, exasperated at the strange and shocking development, scolded his daughter, asking if that was how she would repay him for all he had done for her.

“The father even said that if she wished to marry any one of those people she is staying with in that place, she should bring the person along and he would give his consent and bless the union when we got to the family house in the village, but she refused,” Felix said.

He added that they were not told how Blessing came to Bauchi from Jos.

“An official of the Sharia court, who came to speak to us, said that Blessing came to them to complain that her uncle in Jos did not allow her to convert to Islam. “My uncle is a Christian and Blessing follows him and his family to church regularly so we can’t understand what happened.”

However, Felix hinted that Blessing might be under a spell.

“We were told that it was on the day of the Sallah celebration that she ran away from Jos to Bauchi.

“From what we were told, she was with her uncle’s children and they went out to the street where people were saying ‘Happy Sallah, Happy Sallah’, somebody gave her meat to eat and immediately she ate the meat, she abandoned the children and went away with the people that gave her the meat,” Felix said.

Surprisingly, Blessing’s father told our correspondent that the development was not reported to the police and other security agencies. Also, the matter was not brought to the attention of any human rights organisation.

However, he explained that the family had visited several prayer houses in their quest for a solution.
Christopher Oshi, Blessing’s father, said he got wind of what transpired in a similar case involving Ese Oruru, who was rescued from abduction and forced marriage after a publication by The PUNCH.

Calling on the relevant authorities to come to his aid, the man, who was shaking uncontrollably all through the encounter with our correspondent, said, “It pains me a lot because she (Blessing) is my daughter.

“If it was possible, I would have rescued her myself – I would have rescued her with force “The entire family is in pains, nobody is happy, all her siblings are sad.

“They cry whenever they remember her. “The most painful part is that there is no communication between us and her, no phone calls, no letters, nothing.

“She was a very well behaved girl with a lot of promise – she was in primary five when this thing happened, she would have been in secondary school by now.

“I need help – Nigerians should help me to rescue my child because I am helpless.” Blessing’s mother, Elizabeth, who was moved to tears while her husband spoke, said she was having sleepless nights. Elizabeth said the family have been praying for Blessing’s return.

“I am not happy, but we have been praying for her return. We have met many men of God for prayers,” she said.

Efforts to get in touch with the Bauchi State Shariah Commission, and the Da’awah Council, Bauchi, were not successful at the time of filing this report.

The Bauchi State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Haruna Mohammed, said he would get back to Saturday PUNCH when contacted, but he didn’t do so as of the time of publication of this story.

The Press Secretary of the Bauch State Government, Abubakar Alsadique, said the state government had nothing to do with the matter and that the Sharia body should speak for itself.

“We don’t have anything to do with the Sharia commission. We don’t have their contact. We have not heard of this story and we’re being sincere with this. We don’t want to get involved in this case. The Sharia body should speak for itself,” he said.

In Patience Jonathan's voice. Diaris God OoooooooOoooooooOooooooooooo.

Chisooos!

Osyabj:
Surprisingly, Blessing’s father told our correspondent that
the development was not reported to the police and other
security agencies.
Also, the matter was not brought to the attention of any
human rights organization.
However, he explained that the family had visited several
prayer houses in their quest for a solution.

The stupidity of d gal's parents full cup dey throway.
Heaven helps those who help themselves. No single action 2 help dia daughter but they go 2 meet pastors 4 prayers.
D prayers don release d gal now?
Religion can turn some pple 2 imbeciles.

That yeye sharia organization should be closed n d members holding that gal should be arrested ASAP. How can u hold an underage child w/o d parents' consent?
She's far below 18 n can't make her decisions yet.
Sad tin is, doz useless abbokis fit don dey puck her brain comot.

Thunder fire sharia! Who sharia epp? Bunch of archaic-minded barbaric goats

Please all the Good people of Nigeria should join Punch on a campaign to free this poor Christian girl child who like Ese Oruru was kidnapped, has been drugged and is being rapped by Muslim Paedophiles in Buachi right now. Please spread the word to help free this little girl who is now under a SPELL.

Help spread the message somebody's life is in bondage but why always north smh

Wealthgang:
Chisooos!

"Surprisingly, Blessing’s father told our correspondent that
the development was not reported to the police and other
security agencies.
Also, the matter was not brought to the attention of any
human rights organisation.
However, he explained that the family had visited several
prayer houses in their quest for a solution."

The stupidity of d gal's parents full cup dey throway

Dont blame the victim. This is exactly how they kidnapped Ese Oruru.

Why do u have to use religion.. Ahan!!! Na wa o.. So if they both were muslim or xtian would the topic have been "christian/muslim man kidnap a christian/muslim girl" The media is one of the reasons why there is no peace in the world

Other Christian Girl-children kidnapped by Muslim paedophiles in Bauchi and later freed are:

Blessing Gopep, 13, was abducted by two men identified as Iliya and Umaru, both living in Alkaleri, Bauchi State

Linda Christopher was abducted by one Mallam Shagari in Tarsha Durumi village,

Progress Jacob, 13, was abducted by Mallam Musa in the Yelwa, Sabon Kaura area, both in Bauchi State, on her way back from church on January 3.

http://www.punchng.com/police-rescue-three-stolen-bauchi-girls/

Conservative estimates indicate that upwards of hundreds of thousands of Christian girl children has been kidnapped, drugged and forcefully converted to Islam before the Paedophiles began sexually assaulting them...

Osyabj:
Please all the Good people of Nigeria should join Punch on a campaign to free this poor Christian girl child who like Ese Oruru was kidnapped, has been drugged and is being rapped by Muslim Paedophiles in Buachi right now. Please spread the word to help free this little girl who is now under a SPELL.

This is not a Yoruba problem. Don't call Nigerians when you need us, but when you don't, you call us zoogerians. Hausa men have been bedding Ibo girls since the Buafran war. Your women like those huge abi.ki blokos.

Rapmaestro:
Why do u have to use religion.. Ahan!!! Na wa o.. So if they both were muslim or xtian would the topic have been "christian/muslim man kidnap a christian/muslim girl" The media is one of the reasons why there is no peace in the world

Is Bauchi Sharia commision not a Muslim Organization? Remember the same Bauchi Sharia commison played a role in kidnapping of numerous other Christian girl children. Fact is that not all Muslims are paedophiles, but where a state licensed Muslim outfit like sharia commission can boldly hold a kidnapped underaged christian girls despit the laws prohibiting such acts is babaric and unislamic

Rapmaestro:
Why do u have to use religion.. Ahan!!! Na wa o.. So if they both were muslim or xtian would the topic have been "christian/muslim man kidnap a christian/muslim girl" The media is one of the reasons why there is no peace in the world

Call a spade a spade ja re, female abduction is prevalent in most northern states, I wonder why.
If I say the age of "Prophet" Mohammed's wife I guess I'd be banned.

Osyabj:
Is Bauchi Sharia commision not a Muslim Organization? Remember the same Bauchi Sharia commison played a role in kidnapping of numerous other Christian girl children. Fact is that not all Muslims are paedophiles, but where a state licensed Muslim outfit like sharia commission can boldly hold a kidnapped underaged christian girls despit the laws prohibiting such acts is babaric and unislamic

thanks for ur wonderful reply but I want u to picture the man as a christian.. Be honest, would it have been headlined this way

melvinjames:
Call a spade a spade ja re, female abduction is prevalent in most northern states, I don't know wonder.
If I say the age of "Prophet" Mohammed's wife I guess I'd be banned.

I have nothing to say to this.. I am not in support of the man's act, infact If he is found guilty of all charges, he should be castrated.. But putting religion as the reason why its bad or good.. Nah..

Islam Islam Islam and child abuse are like Buhari and Aisha.

Now compare the reaction of Bauchi Governor, the supposed chief security officer of the State. It is repulsive and sickening. If the Governor's 11 yr old daughter was kidnapped, was drugged out of mind and is being raped, would the so called governor make the following statements below....


"The Press Secretary of the Bauch State Government, Abubakar Alsadique, said the state government had nothing to do with the matter and that the Sharia body should speak for itself.

“We don’t have anything to do with the Sharia commission. We don’t have their contact. We have not heard of this story and we’re being sincere with this. We don’t want to get involved in this case . The Sharia body should speak for itself,” he said."

In case of Patience paul in Sultan' s case, Governor Tambuwal acted as soon as it was brought to his attention and Patience Paul was freed about a week later after 6 months of rapping by Muslim Paedophiles for 6 months!!!

Patience reported after her release that she was rapped virtually every night in Sultan's palace.

These towel-headed muslims deserve no oxygen to breath. They flagrantly disregard Igbo bride-price customary laws without recourse common sense. They believe southerners are conquered people whose women shoukd be enslaved.

Many people including Kanu has drummed it into our head that it is imppossible to live in peace with these hausa and fulani towel-headed pedophiles but what do some one nigerianist idiott in the East do? They condemn kanu and preach to you about an utopian 'peaceful nigeria where everybody holding hands and sing kumbaya". How nonsensical!

The ways of these hausa and fulani muslims up north are alien to us. It is impossible to live in peace with these people for Godsake! How can you live with a president who raped little Aisha at 13 and a popular Yerima who marry 10 year old children at will and say their will be peace. Why do zombies from the south want us to pretend that this is not an issue?

Lalasticlala do you have an 11 year old daughter? Won't it be fair if this family is helped by pushing this to FP?

medpren:
These towel-headed muslims deserve no oxygen to breath. They flagrantly disregard Igbo bride-price customary laws without recourse common sense. They believe southerners are conquered people whose women shoukd be enslaved.

Many people including Kanu has drummed it into our head that it is imppossible to live in peace with these hausa and fulani towel-headed pedophiles but what do some one nigerianist idiott in the East do? They condemn kanu and preach to you about an utopian 'peaceful nigeria where everybody holding hands and sing kumbaya". How nonsensical!

The ways of these hausa and fulani muslims up north are alien to us. It is impossible to live in peace with these people for Godsake! How can you live with a president who raped little Aisha at 13 and a popular Yerima who marry 10 year old children at will and say their will be peace. Why do zombies from the south want us to pretend that this is not an issue?

Well in fairness to President Buhari, the fact is that he married his second wife, Aisha, when she was of legal age of 19 years old. Just google Aisha Buhari age and read the fact. But you are partially right about Paedophile Senator Yerima who married a 13 yr old, Egyptian girl.

Islam ....... .....

...

The parents should properly report this matter to the police and retain the services of a lawyer as well. Anti child trafficking agencies and bodies should wade into the matter. As for Islam I'm not surprised. Its a cage of every unclean bird and a hold for every foul spirit...a cancer afflicting the world and we are obligated to continue fighting it.

When will they stop abducting Christian girls? Please join in spreading the word

You all are here speaking stupid English that's not even your father's language when more are being abducted this morning to the North. The truth is that this people have their law written in the Nigeria Constitution and it hold real ground. The Nigerian Constitution has to be re addressed. DO you all wonder why the Police can do nothing about it in all the states while the sharia court order stands in those States. The caliphate is slowly gathering pace in Nigeria and the more the news is in the open while nothing is done about it the more they have the liver to steal more girls. I suggest you call your senators back home to discuss the situation with them.

Lord have mercy...

Pls tell me! U don read the story? Na kidnap he kidnap am?

melvinjames:
Call a spade a spade ja re, female abduction is prevalent in most northern states, I wonder why.
If I say the age of "Prophet" Mohammed's wife I guess I'd be banned.

A babaric act by a demented paedophiles hiding under the guise of Islam religion