Bauchi Sharia body holds Enugu girl, 11, for two years

When Mr. Christopher Oshi, of Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State, decided to allow his daughter, Blessing, to go and live with a relative, Jonathan Michael Ogbonna, in Jos, Plateau State, in 2012,
there were no indications that the move would, with time, result in an unbearable tragedy for his family.

 Blessing was nine years old at the time, and it was expected that the relocation to Jos would expose her to a better life in the household of her uncle, who is also married with children.

 It was expected that, when in Jos, Blessing would help look after her uncle’s little children, and also go to school.

Initially, everything went according to plan. Blessing arrived in Jos and started school in one of the primary schools in the Dangi area of the city, where her uncle lives.

 She also helped to look after the uncle’s little children.

 Blessing was described as an obedient, reserved and shy, dutiful girl who did all that was expected of her without any fuss.

 Her mother, Elizabeth, also said she was a happy girl.

 However, the story changed suddenly, on the Sallah day in 2014.

 She went missing.

 The uncle, Michael, searched for her everywhere and even beyond their community but all efforts proved abortive.

 But, about a week later, Michael received a call – from an official of the Bauchi State Sharia Commission, who told him that the girl was in Bauchi.

 The official informed Michael that Blessing had ‘willingly’ converted to Islam.

 Interestingly, the official referred to Blessing as ‘Hajara’, which they were told was Islamic name she was given following the conversion.

 The Bauchi State Sharia Commission official, whose identity was not disclosed to our correspondent, reportedly told Blessing’s uncle that the girl converted to Islam on August 8, 2014, following which she brought herself before the commission through Da’awah Council Committee members, a non-governmental Islamic organisation.

Blessing was equally alleged to have reported to the commission that Michael had refused to allow her to practise her new religion.

 Also, a letter was addressed to Blessing’s father, Christopher Oshi, and the uncle/guardian, Jonathan Michael Ogbonna, by the Bauchi State Sharia Commission, apparently to notify them of the new development, particularly the commission’s decision to place Blessing in the custody of the Da’awah Council Committee.

 A copy of the letter, bearing the letter head of the Bauchi State Shariah Commission, No. 3 Darazo Road, Old GRA, Bauchi, and dated August 8, 2014, was made available to our correspondent.

 The letter, read, “The bearer, Hajara Christopher Blessing, brought herself before Shariah Commission through Da’awah Council Committee members reporting her conversion to Islam willingly.

 “According to her statement that she wanted to practise (Islam) because she embraced Islam on her own wish sometimes in 8/8/2014 and she requested the commission to intervene.

 “In view of the above, Shariah Commission has handed her custody to the Da’awah Council Bauchi pending the time things are sorted out with her parent, Mr. Christopher Oshi.”

 The letter was signed by Muh’d Hadi Aliyu, Acting Director, Da’awah Council, Education Department, for Chairman.

 Blessing, or Hajara, has not returned to her parents, or her uncle, since her ‘conversion’ to Islam in August 2014.

 Since that unfortunate development, her family members have borne their agony in silence.

 But they decided to speak out, for the first time, in an encounter with our correspondent in Enugu.

 Anybody that is meeting Mr. Christopher Oshi, Blessing’s father, and his wife, Elizabeth, for the first time would not need to be told that the couple are suffering.

 Agony, grief, despair, helplessness – these were literally written on their faces, as our correspondent observed at a meeting with the couple in Enugu.

 The couple were in company with a younger relative, Ajuro Felix, during the encounter.

 It was difficult getting the couple to speak up – two years of helpless suffering had taken a heavy toll on them.

 They appeared beaten and dejected.

 It was obvious that the shocking developments surrounding their daughter had equally affected their health.

 Christopher, the father, was apparently battling some major health challenges, and he admitted that sleepless nights and unceasing anxiety over the fate of his daughter had robbed him of any form of joy over the last two years.


Source: punch