The Plateau State Youth Council, PYC, has reacted to an alleged abduction and forceful conversion of a 17-year-old girl, Miss Jinkai Yusuf Simon, by a Muslim man identified as Abdulsamad in Kaduna State, calling on the state government to take action and rescue the minor immediately.
According to a statement jointly signed and issued on Monday by Panan Gongden Dapar and Bahal Nanpyal Mark, the
Chairman and Public Relations Officer of the PYC, respectively, the incident occurred in Kuregu, Zaria, Kaduna State, where the teenager who is from Pankshin LGA of Plateau had been living with her elder sister while attending the St. Bartholomew’s Secondary School, Wusasa.
In the statement, the PYC described the abduction of the girl as a case of child trafficking and urged both state governments and other relevant authorities to do everything possible to rescue her, arrest, and prosecute her abductors.
“The Plateau State Youth Council, PYC, condemns the forceful abduction and religious coercion of a 17-year-old student, Miss Jinkai Yusuf Simon, and hereby calls for the immediate intervention from security agencies to secure her release,” the statement said.
Continuing, the PYC said:
“Miss Jinkai, an indigene of Danchor in Pankshin Local Government Area of Plateau State, is a Senior Secondary School 1 student. Her family currently resides in Banki, Kubau LGA of Kaduna State.
“Jinkai left home for school on an unspecified date but never returned. Days of searching ended when her school bag was discovered in the possession of a minor allegedly linked to a neighbour identified as Rukkaya.
“Rukkaya initially denied knowledge of Jinkai’s whereabouts.
“She later disclosed that the teenager had been in communication with a man identified as Abdulsamad.
“The Council has received disturbing photographic evidence showing the minor dressed in a hijab alongside Rukkaya. More alarming were alleged court affidavits from Kano State indicating her name had been changed to “Aisha Sani” and “Aisha Abdulsamad,” with her age also altered.
“This act is reprehensible and violates multiple provisions of the 1999 Constitution, including Section 38 on freedom of religion, Section 34 on human dignity, and Section 35 on personal liberty as well as Section 27 of the Child Rights Act 2003, which prohibits the unlawful removal of a child from the custody of parents or guardians.
“As a minor, Miss Jinkai cannot legally give informed consent. The Council is therefore demanding a thorough investigation by the Plateau and Kaduna State governments, Department of State Services, NAPTIP, and the Nigeria Police Force to ensure her rescue, rehabilitation, and safe reunification with her family and a prompt identification, arrest, and prosecution of everyone involved because this case bears the clear markings of child trafficking, exploitation, and abuse.
“We will continue to pursue justice until Miss Jinkai is safely returned.”