By Godfrey AKON
The Hausa Christians Foundation, HACFO, has raised an alarm over what it described as “abduction from school and forceful conversion to Islam of 14-year-old Esther Duniya, currently living in Islamic captivity since 5th of April, 2023.”
HACFO, in a statement, expressed sadness over “the continuous systematic persecution of the Northern Christians of Nigeria,” adding that “among many of the painful occurrences is the recent abduction, forceful conversion and the abuse of Esther.”
According to the Foundation, Esther, an SS1 student of Government Secondary School Danlawal Ikara, Ikara LGA, originally hails from Magamia Dama Kasuwa of Zangon Kataf LGA of Kaduna State, but relocated to Ikara to live with her aunt, Mrs. Esther Danjuma, due to insecurity in her village and ill health.
It noted that Esther started responding to treatment and 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 aid 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,” the Foundation narrated.
It stated that because of the refusal for Esther to be returned, her aunt went and reported the matter to the Kunkumi Police Station and thereafter the matter was transferred to the Makarfi LGA Divisional Police Station.
However, the group alleged that “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 Muslims 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.
HACFO further noted that as Christians they 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 the Foundation, on behalf of the Duniya’s Family decided to write to the Nigerian Government, the Nigerian Police Force and all the relevant law 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.
“Knowing fully well that Esther is still a minor (just 14 years old) and cannot make decision for herself, we are calling on your good sense of justice, to intervene into the matter, and to see that, Esther Duniya is re-united back with her family and continue with her education which is paramount. This can go a long way in promoting the peaceful co-existence between these people of different faith in their community, Kaduna state and Nigeria in general.
“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,” the Foundation said.