Christian organization urges Nigerian president to intervene in forced child marriages

The leaders of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) met with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Nov. 3 to urge him to speak out against forced child marriages committed by Northern Nigeria's traditional rulers.

According to World Watch Monitor, forced marriages of Christian minors are prevalent in northern Nigeria, which is predominantly Muslim. The representatives of CAN warned that the trend is gathering "a cloud of crisis" and could cause serious problems if it is not prevented.

The meeting with Buhari came after a recent report of an abduction and conversion of a Christian school girl to Islam.

Habiba Isiyaku, 14, from Wawar Kaza village in the state of Katsina, was abducted on Aug. 16 while she was on her way home from school. She was married off to Jamilu Lawal, who was one of her abductors.

The marriage was allegedly agreed upon by Alhaji Abdulmumuni Usman, the Emir or ruler of Katsina. Lawal, a staff member in the Emir's palace, reportedly paid Usman the dowry of 50,000 Naira.

Babiba's father, Isiyaku Tanko, has pleaded to the authorities to help him secure the release of his daughter.

"My little girl was abducted...on her way from school. After my investigations, I discovered that Jamilu Lawal, who lives in our community, was responsible for my daughter's disappearance," said Tanko.

He stated that the matter has been brought to the attention of the police commissioner and there has been a meeting between him and the abductors as well as his daughter. The commissioner, however, failed to arrest the kidnappers and Tanko's daughter has not been released.

When Tanko came to the palace to demand the release of his daughter, the Emir told him that Habiba has converted to Islam and he no longer has any relationship to Habiba. He was accused of defaming the Emir and he was forced to sign an apology drafted by the palace officials.

The police commissioner confirmed the case and stated that the abductor was absolved of any criminal act.

"It was gathered that the girl was neither kidnapped, abducted nor procured, as she was the one who willingly left her parents' house for the house of the Chairman of Hisbah [a police force that enforces Sharia law], who took her to their village head and later to the district head of Kankara, where she explained that she had converted to Islam." the commissioner stated.

Rev. Nelson Onyekachukwu told World Watch Monitor that he and other CAN officials have attempted to secure Habiba's release but their efforts were fruitless.

Buhari vowed that he will treat all Nigerians equally and he also promised to restore peace to all parts of the country, The Guardian reported. CAN officials also raised their concerns about the attacks on farmers committed by Fulani herdsmen.

Rev. Yakubu Pam, the CAN chairman in Northern Nigeria, has expressed his optimism that the president will address their concerns accordingly.

"The president's response to the demands of the delegation was positive as he promised us he was going to look into them," Pam said.