Christian family accuses Kano hisbah of converting and marrying off their missing underage daughter

 

The family of Yusuf Simon, from Pankshin LGA of Plateau State, has petitioned the Kaduna State commissioner of police over alleged abduction, conversion to Islam, and marriage of their 17-year-old daughter, Jinkai Simon. 

The petition is dated 6th May, 2026. In it, the family stated that Jinkai, a student at St. Bartholomew’s Secondary School, Wusasa, Zaria, disappeared on 9th March, 2026, after leaving home for school 

She was living with her eldest sister, Jennifer Simon, in the Kuregu area of Zaria, Kaduna State, at the time of the incident. 

According to the petition, Jinkai was last seen with a neighbour, Ruqaiya, who also resides in Kuregu. 

The petition said Ruqaiya later informed the family that Jinkai had been converted to Islam and taken to Kano, where she was handed over to the Kano State Hisbah Board. 

The family alleged that the Kano State Hisbah Board subsequently changed the girl’s name, falsified her age to make her seem old enough for consent, and married her off after converting her to Islam. 

The petitioner said the Hisbah Board, upon receiving the girl, allegedly “changed her name from Jinkai Yusuf to Aisha Sani and married her off to one Abdulsamad and as such is now going by the name Aisha Abdulsamad.” 

Documents attached to the petition also showed that the girl was taken to a Kano State High Court, where she swore to an affidavit declaring that she is 19 years old. 

The parents accused the board of falsifying documents to facilitate the process. 

They maintained that, “To perpetrate these illegal acts, the Hisbah Board  went as far as forging consent documents purported to have been signed by parents, including causing her to swear to an Affidavit that she is 19 years, contrary to a well-known fact that no person swears to his or her birth except the parents that gave birth to the person.” 

The petition called on the police commissioner to investigate the matter and ensure Jinkai’s rescue and safe return to her parents. 

“It is with these in mind that we write that you use your good office and cause an investigation into the matter with a view to returning Miss Jinkai safely.” 

The petition also referenced the Supreme Court judgment in “Lagos State Government vs Abdulkareem 2022) 17 NWLR part 1859, page 287-288 PARAS H-C” as guidance on the rights and religious freedom of children. 

Photographs allegedly showing Jinkai wearing a Hijab alongside Ruqaiya and some members of the Kano State Hisbah Board were attached to the petition. 

The family also submitted documents they described as forged birth certificates and affidavits allegedly used to alter the girl’s age. 

The petition was copied to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kaduna State, the Anglican Bishop of the Diocese of Wusasa, Zaria, the Christian Solidarity Worldwide Nigeria (CSW-N), and the Youth Wing of CAN, Kaduna State.