Relations of another missing 14-year-old girl, Patience
Paul, have alleged that the primary six pupil of Mohammed Zako Model Primary
School, Sokoto, may have been abducted and housed at the palace of the Sultan
of Sokoto.
Father of the girl, Mr. Paul Adaji, an indigene of Ochobo in
Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State, told Vanguard on phone that his
daughter had been missing since August 12, 2015.
Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State, told Vanguard on phone that his
daughter had been missing since August 12, 2015.
Adaji, who resides in Sokoto with his family, alleged that
some persons spotted his daughter at the Sultan’s palace. Continue…
some persons spotted his daughter at the Sultan’s palace. Continue…
He said: “We got information that she was in the Sultan’s
palace and the last time we went there, we did not find her.”
palace and the last time we went there, we did not find her.”
When asked how they knew she was at the palace, he said:
“Some people told us that they saw her at the palace. They also used to camp
some of them there, that was why we went to the palace to see if she has been
taken there.
“Some people told us that they saw her at the palace. They also used to camp
some of them there, that was why we went to the palace to see if she has been
taken there.
“Even her friend, who
used to be a Christian, was found there. She was taken there and they converted
her. “We will still continue to search for her. We will not give up; we only
want the world to help us so that our daughter can be released to us.”
used to be a Christian, was found there. She was taken there and they converted
her. “We will still continue to search for her. We will not give up; we only
want the world to help us so that our daughter can be released to us.”
Brother’s story
Corroborating Mr. Adaji’s story, his son,
Paul Isaac Adaji, gave an account of circumstances that led to the
disappearance of his sister.
Paul Isaac Adaji, gave an account of circumstances that led to the
disappearance of his sister.
He said: “Patience is my younger sister. We are based in Sokoto.
That is where the issue occurred. My dad is in Sokoto but we lost our mother
two years ago. My younger sister was brain-washed from school, Mohammed Zako
Model Primary school, Sokoto. She is a primary six pupil.
That is where the issue occurred. My dad is in Sokoto but we lost our mother
two years ago. My younger sister was brain-washed from school, Mohammed Zako
Model Primary school, Sokoto. She is a primary six pupil.
“The fact is that sometime last year, we noticed she started
keeping some funny friends and her attitude started changing. This is a girl
that normally likes attending church activities.
keeping some funny friends and her attitude started changing. This is a girl
that normally likes attending church activities.
“We cautioned her but along the line, she changed. Then
again, she started misbehaving. So at that point, my parent and I decided to
move her out of Sokoto and return her to Benue State so the rumours of children
converting does not happen to us as we do not have anybody to fight for us.
again, she started misbehaving. So at that point, my parent and I decided to
move her out of Sokoto and return her to Benue State so the rumours of children
converting does not happen to us as we do not have anybody to fight for us.
“Unfortunately, what we were scared of later happened to us.
Sometimes we will see her returning from school with a veil covering her head.
When we inquired, she said it was given to her by her friend in school.
Sometimes we will see her returning from school with a veil covering her head.
When we inquired, she said it was given to her by her friend in school.
“We cautioned her on several occasions. But we later
arranged with my dad to get her back to Benue. Unfortunately, she got to know
about our plan to send her back to Benue and obviously informed the people who
were brainwashing her and they eventually abducted her.
arranged with my dad to get her back to Benue. Unfortunately, she got to know
about our plan to send her back to Benue and obviously informed the people who
were brainwashing her and they eventually abducted her.
“When we could not see her, we started serious investigation
and along the line, discovered that it was one of our neighbours who actually
abducted her.
and along the line, discovered that it was one of our neighbours who actually
abducted her.
Hisbah takes over
“We reported the matter to the police. The masterminds of
her abduction were invited by the Police. They made their confessions that the
girl wanted to join their religion, which was why they abducted her. They said
they took her to the Hisbah (Islamic Police).
her abduction were invited by the Police. They made their confessions that the
girl wanted to join their religion, which was why they abducted her. They said
they took her to the Hisbah (Islamic Police).
“At that point, the Police invited the Hisbah and they came
and gave their own statement. They said they had taken the girl to the Sultan’s
palace. I was hoping that since the police had stepped in, my sister would come
home.
and gave their own statement. They said they had taken the girl to the Sultan’s
palace. I was hoping that since the police had stepped in, my sister would come
home.
“But that did not happen. I reported the matter at the
Police Headquarters in Sokoto, but it was transferred to our Area Division. So
after the interrogations, the Police said since I reported the matter at the
headquarters, their findings will also be communicated to the headquarters.
Police Headquarters in Sokoto, but it was transferred to our Area Division. So
after the interrogations, the Police said since I reported the matter at the
headquarters, their findings will also be communicated to the headquarters.
“Two weeks later, I went to the police headquarters here in
Sokoto only for the police to tell us that we should just go and maintain
peace. I became inquisitive and wanted to know what the police found that
prompted that advice.
Sokoto only for the police to tell us that we should just go and maintain
peace. I became inquisitive and wanted to know what the police found that
prompted that advice.
Bishop Kukah steps in
“It was at that point that I reported the matter to Catholic
Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah. He was very angry with us, saying we
ought to have reported the matter to him earlier.
Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah. He was very angry with us, saying we
ought to have reported the matter to him earlier.
“He made some calls and promised to step into the matter. I
became restless and worried because the Bishop is a very busy person. We are
urging and pleading with all well-meaning Nigerians to help us intervene.
became restless and worried because the Bishop is a very busy person. We are
urging and pleading with all well-meaning Nigerians to help us intervene.
“From what we gathered, from last year up to early this
year, she was in the Sultan’s palace, but she has been taken away from there
since last month.
year, she was in the Sultan’s palace, but she has been taken away from there
since last month.
“‘We went there with my other sister to check and they
brought a different person to us. From our investigations, she is not the only
one because the two girls they brought did not look like real Muslims.”
brought a different person to us. From our investigations, she is not the only
one because the two girls they brought did not look like real Muslims.”
Meanwhile, calls to Bishop Kukah to find out the veracity of
claims that the matter was reported to him at a point were not responded to.
claims that the matter was reported to him at a point were not responded to.
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