The family of Yusuf Simon from Plateau State has
petitioned the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police over the alleged abduction,
religious conversion, and marriage of their 17-year-old daughter, Jinkai Simon.
In a petition dated May 6, 2026, the family claimed
that Jinkai, a student of St. Bartholomew’s Secondary School, Wusasa, Zaria,
disappeared on March 9, 2026, after leaving home for school while living with
her elder sister in the Kuregu area of Zaria.
According to the petition, the teenager was last seen
with a neighbour identified as Ruqaiya, who later informed the family that she
had been taken to Kano State, converted to Islam, and handed over to the Kano
State Hisbah Board.
The family further alleged that the girl’s name was
changed from Jinkai Yusuf to Aisha Sani, her age was altered, and she was
subsequently married to a man identified as Abdulsamad.
They claimed that documents obtained from the Kano
State High Court showed the girl swore an affidavit stating she was 19 years
old, which the family insists was falsified.
The petition also alleged that consent documents were
forged and that the process was facilitated by altering personal records,
including birth-related details.
The family maintained that the actions violated her
rights as a minor, stating that no child should be made to swear to an age
declaration contrary to parental records.
They called on the Commissioner of Police to
investigate the matter thoroughly, rescue the girl, and ensure her safe return.
The petition also cited legal precedent, referencing
the Supreme Court judgment in Lagos State Government vs Abdulkareem (2022)
as part of its argument on child rights and religious freedom.
Photographs allegedly showing the girl in a hijab
alongside Ruqaiya and members of the Kano State Hisbah Board were attached to
the petition, along with documents the family described as forged birth
certificates and affidavits.
Copies of the petition were also sent to the Inspector
General of Police, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Anglican
Diocese of Wusasa in Zaria, Christian Solidarity Worldwide Nigeria, and the
Youth Wing of CAN in Kaduna State.
Authorities have yet to issue an official public
response at the time of filing this report.
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