Did the Emir of Katsina really marry off an abducted teenager?

The emir of Katsina, HRH, Alhaji Abdulmummuni Kabir Usman is under fire for allegedly marrying off a 14-year-old girl born to Christian parents who is said to have been abducted.


On the 16th August, 2016, the teenager in question, Habiba Isiyaku was taken away from her school, Government Senior Secondary School Kudun Kankara LGA of Katsina by one Jamilu Lawal of Wawar Kaza in Kankara LGA, Katsina State.

The method of abduction is not really clear though news has it that after receiving the news of the abduction of his daughter Habib’s father, Isiyaku Tanko immediately lodge a complaint to the Commissioner of Police Katsina state command, requesting swift intervention.

The Police was later informed by the suspect, Jamilu Lawal after his arrest that the said girl is being kept at the palace of the emir. All efforts by Habiba’s father to seek for the release of his daughter including appealing to emir, reportedly proved abortive.

The news is trending on the Nigerian online space that the emir has married Habiba out to Jamilu Lawal (her abductor) after taking fifty thousand Naira (N50, 000) from him as dowry, claiming that Habiba has been converted to Islam.

According to Daily Trust, Habiba said she did it willingly while speaking before a joint committee session with officials of Katsina Emirate, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Katsina chapter, and security personnel yesterday October 13th.


“I took all decisions in my own volition. I chose on my own to become a Muslim and relocated to the emir’s palace for fear of what I might go through and the threat coming from my parents", she saemir
This story is developing. More details later