Sunday 6 March 2016

Sokoto abductee: ‘How I Escaped Being Married Off While In Custody’

SOKOTO-ABDUCTION
The 15-year-old Patience Paul Adaji, who was abducted and forcefully converted to Islam in Sokoto State has regained her freedom, the father, Mr. Paul Adaji confirmed.
Patience, who appeared dazed and traumatised when LEADERSHIP Sunday spoke with her yesterday, was before her sudden disappearance from the house, a Primary 6 pupil.
According to her, she was lured by one Rashida and Sani, who she said are neighbours.
Recalling that there were plans to marry her off while she was in the custody of her abductors, by one Mallam, the teenager said her initial resistance saved her.
“Two suitors continued to come to seek for my hand in marriage but at first, I was not interested in any because I still want to go back to school. After they continued coming, I later thought of accepting the proposal from one of them who brought some vegetables for me when I fell sick. The other one visited about eight to nine times and each time he came, he always gave me 500 before leaving. They come mostly in the night,” she told LEADERSHIP Sunday.
Patience was abducted on the August 12, 2015 and was held hostage in transit manner within the metropolis until her eventual release by security operatives after the story went viral and the state governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal ordered an investigation into the matter.
Explaining how her abduction happened, Patience said Rashida and Sani lured her into packing her belongings and following them to a number of places before eventually camping her at a house in Gangare Kupah, behind Coca-cola along Kara Market within the metropolis.
The teenage girl said she was taken to the house of one Mallam Ibrahim, Sarkin Baki (King of Strangers) where she stayed for some time before they arranged for her conversion.
According to her, after the conversion she was then renamed Aisha and they started teaching her the Muslim way of life and doctrine.
While recalling that she often solemnly thought of reuniting with her family, Patience noted that, she often became absent minded any time such thoughts came to her mind.
Confirming the development, Sokoto Police Command Spokesperson, DSP Al-Mustapha Sani said, investigation into the matter was still on-going. He however, admitted that, three persons had been arrested in connection with the abduction.
Al-Mustapha added further that, the 15-year-old was taken for medical examination and was confirmed hale and hearty by her medical report before she was handed over to the father, in the presence of the Chief of Idoma Community, Sokoto state chapter, her elder brother and other relatives.
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