By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

A 14-year-old girl, Esther Duniya, has been allegedly abducted and forcefully converted to Islam in Dorayi community of Ikara Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Esther was said to have been abducted on April 5, 2023 and is said to still be in the custody of the District Head of Makarfi (Hakimin Makarfi) despite the incident being reported to the police.

A document published by the Advocacy Division of Hausa Christians Foundation (HACFO) on May 5, 2023 expressed sadness at the development.

The document, a copy of which was obtained by News Express today, Tuesday, May 9, said that Esther Duniya, a Senior Secondary (SS1) new student of Government Secondary School Danlawal Ikara, Ikara LGA, was living with her aunt when she was taken away by force, converted to Islam and held till date. It cited Esther’s ordeal as an example of “the continuous systematic persecution of the Northern Christians of Nigeria.”

Giving details of Duniya’s predicament, HAFCO said: “Miss Esther Duniya is 14 years old who was born on the 29th of April 2009. She hails from Magamia Dama Kasuwa of Zangon Kataf LGA of Kaduna State.

“Two factors resulted to her relocation to Ikara, Ikara LGA of Kaduna State to live with her aunty Mrs. Esther Danjuma: the first is the insecurity which affected her village and the second is the health challenge she has battling with. Her aunty whose name is Esther also, took her to stay with her to treat her with local herbs since her father a very ill person too cannot take care of her as expected.

“When she started responding to treatment, her aunty thought it wise for her to continue with her education, which was on hold for a while due to the health challenge. While the treatment continues, on 10th March, 2023 Esther was enrolled at Government Secondary School Danlawal Ikara, which was very close to where she runs her restaurant business.

“As Esther continued to attend her classes, on the 5th of April 2023 she left for school in the morning but couldn’t return home. Esther’s Aunty started looking for her that very day but couldn’t find her. The following day, she was alerted by someone who saw Esther in the house of one Mallam Sani Danmeyamma Danlawal.

“On reaching the house, his daughter by name Mansura, which happens to be Esther’s classmate, confessed that Esther came to her house to help her wash her cloth, but afterward, she left the house. When the matter was reported to the Village Head of Danlawal, he summoned and questioned the said Mansura, which later confessed that Esther was taken to Dorayi to the house of one Aisha Basiru.

“On hearing this, Esther’s Aunty left for Dorayi in search of Esther, and on reaching there she received the shocking news of her life by one Badeyi Bala who claimed to be a Policeman and one Alhaji Lawal who is an aide of the village head of Dorayi (Dogarin Sarkin Dorayi). The Dogarin Sarking Dorayi admitted that one Aisha brought Esther to him to convert her to Islam which he did and because of that together with the said Badeyi Bala who claims to be a policeman said that Esther is with them and they will not give her back to the parents since they have now converted her to Islam. When the parents insisted on the return of Esther, these two staff of the village head refused and even threatened their lives.”

Continuing, the group said: “In view of the threat they received and the refusal for Esther to be returned back to them, Esther’s Aunty went and reported the matter to the Kunkumi Police Station and thereafter the matter was transferred to the Makarfi LGA Divisional Police Station. Instead of handing over Esther back to her family, the Makarfi Police Command handed over Esther to the Makarfi District Head (Hakimin Makarfi).

“Esther’s aunty together with some CAN officials of Makarfi LGA went to see the Hakimi on the same matter but refused to grant them audience. The same Hakimi handed over Aisha to Daawa, the Islamic group in charge of converting and indoctrinating Muslim converts who are now boasting and threatening to convert even the Esther’s Aunty.

“The same matter was taken to the Zaria Police Command by the same Muslim group to gain the support of the Police, because the Zaria Police Command ignored justice and decided to scold the Esther’s Aunty for insisting on the release of her Daughter.

“Monday 1st May, 2023, Esther’s biological father, Mr. Duniya, despite his health challenge, risked his life to go and see the Hakimin Makarfi, instead of listening to him, together with the Daawah group threatened to convert him also. When they brought Esther to see him, she was crying and wanting to follow him, but the Hakimi said that he will not return Aisha to her Parents. She will stay with him for one month until she finally decided to speak of her intention publicly to remain a Muslim.

“We as Christians understand and appreciate the need for peaceful co-existence among the Christians and Muslims of Kaduna state and even Nigeria as a whole, which is why we the Hausa Christians Foundation, on behalf of the Duniya’s Family decided to write to the Nigerian Government, the Nigerian Police Force and all the relevant laws enforcement agencies to ensure the safe release and return of Esther Duniya back to her family.

“From experience, our Christian girls that are usually abducted and forced into Islam are usually raped, abused sexually, physically and psychologically and even forced into marriage, which we are afraid that such have happen to our Sister Esther.”

While noting that Esther is still a minor and cannot make decision for herself, the group called for good sense of justice, to intervene in the matter, and to see that, Esther Duniya is re-united with her family.

While saying that her education is paramount, it added that an amicable settlement can go a long way in promoting the peaceful co-existence between people of different faith in their community, Kaduna state and Nigeria in general.

HACFO added: “We will continue to reject such evil doings and advocate for justice and respect for human rights and dignity across board.

“We therefore call on all Christians the World over to be praying for the Christians in Northern Nigeria. The persecution is surging and unbearable; from deliberate abduction, forced conversion to Islam and forced marriage of our young Christians Girls through the help of the Islamic traditional rulers, to the displacement of several communities and kidnapping of many others for ransom. May God help Esther and bring her back safely in Jesus Name. Amen.”

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