SOKOTO GIRL ABDUCTION: FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO MEET POLICE, GOVERNOR'S AIDE TODAY

The family and friends of Patience Paul, a 15-year old girl who was allegedly abducted and forced into a marriage in Sokoto, will meet with the police this morning, PREMIUM TIMES has learnt.

Isaac Paul, the girl’s brother, told PREMIUM TIMES over the phone that they would also meet with Imam Imam, Governor Aminu Tambuwal’s spokesperson.
“The meeting is holding by 10 a.m. at the police headquarters in Sokoto,” Mr. Paul, 28, said.
The Sokoto State government on Thursday launched an ‎investigation into the alleged abduction and forced marriage of Miss Paul.

Mr. Imam said on Thursday that the government had been unable to contact the victim’s family to shed more light on the allegation.
“In the interim, the Human Rights Commission was asked to present an interim report and update the public with all information as it becomes available,” Mr. Imam said.

The Sokoto State Human Rights Commission had also contacted the Sultanate Council and the State Police Command for a briefing, Mr. Imam added.
Below is a petition written by the family to the police in September last year. We are publishing it unedited.

Paul Isaac Adaji,
Gidan Kukah area, (Rungin Sambo) 
Sokoto North LG.
18/09/2015
The commissioner of police
Sokoto state
Sir,
Complaint of Abduction against Suleiman, Monde and Ibrahim Tukur of Gidan Kukah, in Rungin Sambo Area Sokoto
With due respect sir, am here to lay my complaint against the above-named persons. Suleiman and Monde are brothers and also our neighbours, while Ibrahim Tukur is a civil defence officer.

Sir my sister’s name is Patience Paul and the father’s name is Paul Adaji. She got missing since morning of the 12th of August 2015 to an unknown destination. Before she got missing, her character in the house was noticed to have changed. She no longer went to school frequently and the kind of friends she keeps was not ok by her father.

So a plan was made by me, my father and one of my younger sister (Hope Paul) who came from the village to see us, that whenever she’s going back, she would be going with her (i.e. the Patience Paul). So it was arranged and booked that they would be leaving on the 13th of august 2015, but unknown to me and my daddy that my younger sister who came from the village has disclosed to her that she’s leaving Sokoto.

So sir, this was the actual reason she left home. Though I was very furious with that my sister for doing such a thing. So that very same day sir, we started searching for her. There is this Zuru man living opposite our house with his grown up children who are also married and living with him, it’s a very big compound. We suddenly noticed the wife’s coming out to peep at us so I sent one of my elder sister (Anna) to go in there and ask them if the girl is in there. She came back to tell us that while she was going in she overheard one of them saying “even if they ask, she would tell them she didn’t see any girl”. Some almajiri children playing outside the man’s house were asked if they saw her entering the house, they said yes that, she even fetched some water for one of the wife’s.

So I picked up my bike and ran to where the elderly man of the house is working, which is not too far from the house. I reported everything to him and how some almajiri children testified that she entered the house. The elderly man started quarreling, that nobody fetched water in his house that morning.

So I said to him, am just like one of his sons. I didn’t come for quarrel but just for him to come and check because it’s possible that one of his wives is harboring the girl. The man refused. So just as I was about to leave the place, one of his grandsons who was there now testified that they saw her fetching water for one of the wives. Can you hear that I said to the man, this is your own son speaking, let it not be as if we are laying again you. That was when he agreed to come and help me check. So he came and did almost 20 minutes before coming out. When he came out, he asked me to go in and check for myself. So I said to him that am going nowhere, that if she’s there they should just let her out for me, that’s all I want. So one of his grown up child now pleaded with me so I entered. He started showing me empty drums that nobody fetched water in his house that morning for anybody. So that means the almajiri children and his grandson is lying?

I began to think as I leave the house. So that very day coincidentally am having a test in school, because am a student of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto. And also working with Sokoto Guest Inn hotel’s. So I left for school hoping to come back and report the case to the police. On reaching home from school, my in law (Monday) came to informed me that he has seen a civil defense officer who will assist us.

I now said Ok, am even trying to report the case to the police too. So we invited them into the case and they started investigating the house the following day. It almost results into quarrel between us. So the civil defense guy now calls one of the man’s son aside. I don’t know what they discussed, but he came back and  told us to leave the case for him. So three days after, the civil defense guy came with one of his friend (Almu) to inform us that they have seen where the girl was. We were excited, so we now asked them to come and show us the house or place so we can further confirm by our self since they said they saw her where other Christian girls were kept too.

They started giving us excuses that we should not worry, that the girl they saw was our sister, and the name we gave them was the name they called and the girl was brought out to them. So it continues for another week, going into the third week they refused to bring the girl or agreed to come and show us where they saw her. They even stopped coming to brief us on the ongoing development. So I began to suspect the civil defense guy and his friend Almu.

So I reported the case to kwani police station when one Inspector Aminu advised me to report the guy to his office that his boss will take action against him. So we traced his office to Sokoto south which he told us he is working, they said they didn’t know him. So we came back and started calling him and his friend, they keep telling us they are on duty or busy. So on Friday 4th of September the civil defense guy now asked me to meet him behind police barracks in gidan igwai area. I came and we met, I started quarreling that why they should prolong the case like that he started pleading that he was very busy that’s why. So he told me again that the girl is no longer where we thought but now with Hisbah people. So I now asked him to tell me who handed over the girl to them, he said it’s the two sons of the zuru elderly man (monde and sule) for what reason he said he didn’t know. So I asked him to give me the number of one of the Hisbah people whom I spoke to that very hour and he confirmed to me that yes the girl in question is in their custody. I also spoke with one of their commander who also said that the girl is now Aisha that she has converted to Islam and she has been taken to the kings’ palace. So I now ask him with who’s consent did they do what they did? He was unable to answer me straight forward so we now booked an appointment with him the following day by 11am. That same night I ran back to kwani police station and report the new developments but inspector Aminu was not around. So they asked  me to come back the following day been on Saturday 5th of September. I came he was still not around so one officer directed me to go to CIB office and lay complain to the commissioner of police, that they will investigate the matter and bring everyone to booked. So far the police have arrested  the above  named parsons and  also confirmed from Dr kasarawa the commander of hisbah in our area interrogation is already going on but not impressive.
That’s the reason am here sir. I happened to know one of the late sultan’s son popularly known as (Dan Sarki) where am working. I reported the case to him and he instantly called the head of HISBAH in sokoto who came and also said that the girl in question is in  sultans palace, he told the prince to give him till Monday to bring the girl out but up to this hour she’s still not out, if I call either of them, they keep telling me they are working on it. They are working on it and time is going and delay can be very dangerous. So on Tuesday  8th September, I went to my parish priest and I also reported the case to him and he asked me to see him the following day after calling someone on phone.
Please sir, I want you to use your good office and investigate this matter and bring every one that has a hand in the kidnap of my sister to book. Hope to hear from you soon.
Thanks 
Yours faithfully
N.B
Fathers name:  Mr. Paul Adaji
Elder brothers name: Isaac Paul