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Jireh David Ma’aji: abducted, converted and forcefully married as third wife in Damaturu-CSWN

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Jireh David Ma’aji



On 6th May, 2019, Miss Jireh David Ma’aji who clocks 19 years just days before 6th May, and a graduate of Government Girls Secondary School Gadaka, left her parents’ house in Bogaru ward, Gadaka town in Fika Local government area of Yobe state.

She left in the morning for a Non-Governmental Organisation run by one Hajia Hauwa Maina Bukar, where she has been learning how to sew.

She got to the center and found it locked but then decided to enquire from one of her friend who lives nearby.

Her friend (Maryam) told her that the decision to temporarily close down the center was because of the Muslim fast. That it was done the week Miss Jireh didn’t come.

Maryam then escorted her and along the way she reportedly gave her chewing gum, explaining that it was for an upcoming wedding.

Later, Jireh’s father, Pastor David Ma’aji, a missionary with West African Mission — engaged in planting churches, started calling his daughter when she failed to come back home but her mobile line didn’t connect.

He then went and reported to the DSS office in Fika and also made preparations for the next day, 7th May 2019 to go to Damaturu, the state capital to again report to the Police and DSS.

He was on his way to Damaturu the next day when he got a call from someone at home saying that the palace guards of the district head of Fika sent a message that he should come back home because his daughter had been located.

He returned home and went to see the district head but was told that he had travelled to Potiskum. They also couldn’t get the phone number of the palace guard who came to his house.

He then decided to go to the police station in Fika to find out on any progress.

At the police station, he was assigned two policemen to go to Potiskum to meet the district head.

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They met the district head but he told them that his palace guard has the information on the person who brought the information.

According to the Palace guard, when he was invited to the police station; one Alhaji Yakubu, then the chairman of Fika LG sharia committee (now a member of the Yobe House of Assembly representing Fika constituency) was at the ministry of religious affairs in Damaturu when Miss Jireh came in to convert to Islam, accompanied by one Samaila Alhaji.

So the ministry gave Yakubu the message to go and tell the parents of Jireh that she wants to convert to Islam.

The Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) asked the palace guard and Yakubu to write statements then told Yakubu to inform the ministry to bring back the girl to Fika the next day.

But the next day the father was asked by the Police to come to Damaturu, saying that bringing back the girl wasn’t going to be possible anymore.

The father then went to Damaturu but decided that going to the ministry for religious affairs was not going to be fruitful.

He instead opted to further report the whole issue to the DSS office there.

Everything was put into writing but nothing was done.

They slept in Damaturu and came back to Fika the next day when no progress was made on the issue. They then went back to the police in Fika who told them that a message has been gotten that their daughter would be brought back to Fika on Friday 10th May, for her parent to see her.

She was brought back clade in full hijab, accompanied by a policeman, a lawyer and an official from the ministry for religious affairs.

They all met at the police station.

When she saw her twin brother she said she wants to have a word with him, but the brother requested that she remove the Hijab so they can talk.

She removed it — helped by her brother but the lawyer said it is an insult.

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He put back the Hijab but the brother removed it again.

The lawyer then said the atmosphere was not conducive for any dialogue and that the case should be transferred from Fika.

It was immediately transferred to the Area Command but gain transferred to the state CID in Damaturu that same day.

The next day they all went to Damaturu and wrote a statement around 4pm there and left for home.

They were again asked to come back on Monday, the 13th.

They did and met Miss Jireh, the Saimaila Alhaji and others at the CID.

A deputy Commissioner of Police met them and interrogated all, including the lady and Samaila.

The Saimaila was asked if he is in love with Jireh and he said no.

Jireh was asked if she loves Samaila and she said no.

Her father was asked what he wants, and he said he just wants to go back home with his daughter.

He added that even if she wants to practice Islam, it should be in his house.

The DC then said Jireh should be returned back to her house in Fika, but the lawyer that came with her insisted that as her lawyer the decision is not acceptable to him.

He then said the right thing to do is to take the matter to court to which the DC agreed and immediately started making plans for a court appearance, but they were asked again to come to the CID after some days.

They went back to Damaturu and after some deliberations, it was said that Jireh is an adult and should be able to speak for herself.

She was then asked if she wants to go back to her parents. She said she would go back to them on 27th May after the Sallah celebration since she is fasting.

Everybody agreed, wrote and signed on a single sheet of paper.

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But before the 27th, the father was at home when he was told that Jireh would be coming to Fika.

That she has been insisting that she wants to see her parents.

She was brought to Fika, accompanied by a lawyer, a director in the ministry, a lady, a DPO and others.

She then told her father that someone from the ministry of religious affairs said he wants to marry her and she is informing him.

They then went to Damaturu the next day to report the new development to the police.

On the agreed date of 27th May, the father travelled to Damaturu to take her home but those who came were new officials from the ministry of religious affairs.

They told the father that they are new and aren’t completely aware of what the issue is.

Miss Jireh then told her father again that she would come back on 7th June and that anyone that want to marry her should come to her father’s house and ask for her hand in marriage.

That also was agreed.

But on the 2nd of June, he was going back home when he got a call that a delegation from the palace of the emir of Fika wants to see him.

They met him at home and he was told that he is being informed that his daughter has been married off.

And for months nothing was heard.

One day she was able to escape and come to the house of her uncle, Rev. Musa Zakka.

She had earlier called him to say she was coming.

She came to the House and was there but her ‘husband’ was able to locate her and later the house of Rev Musa was surrounded by Policemen.

He was taken straight to Damaturu on the allegations of forceful kidnapping, detained but released later on bail but his phone was seized.

Since then, nothing has been heard about Jireh.

source: Medium

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