The story of a female teenager, Habiba Isyaku Tanko, who hails from Wawar Kaza community in Kanakara Local Government Area of Katsina State, is enmeshed in controversies and generating ill feelings among families and religious bodies in the state.

Dominated by issues of age disparity, alleged abduction, forceful conversion to Islam and marrying her off without the consent of her parents, Habiba’s story will continue to occupy centre stage.

Habiba, a Christian, and Jamilu Lawal, a Muslim, allegedly met and fell in love at Wawar Kaza community. Her father, Isyaku Tanko, was not favourably disposed to their union; hence he tried all he could to separate them. He persistently persuaded his daughter to rethink, and asked Jamilu to keep off from any relationship with her.

Disturbed by the situation, Habiba was said to have run to the district head of Kankara to report the matter. She had also reported to the village head. It was gathered that the district head had assigned the Hisbah Council to look into the matter. Following this action, the matter was brought to the state Hisbah, where it was handed over to one Ashafa Abubakar for further action.

It was also gathered that Habiba’s father lodged a formal complaint to the police, accusing Jamilu of abducting his daughter. He also petitioned the Inspector General of Police through the Commissioner of Police in the state. Jamilu was subsequently arrested and detained for four days at the Criminal Investigation Department of the police.

It was further gathered that as a mediator, Abubakar took the matter to the palace. It was said that Habiba had indicated interest to convert to Islam and get married her heartthrob, Jamilu. Subsequently, she was accommodated at the palace, where her father was invited and told of the development.

Consequently, the Emir of Katsina, Abdulmumin Usman, forwarded the matter to the Commissioner of Police in the state, Usman Abdullahi. The commissioner equally invited all the parties for a discussion on the way out. After the discussion, the commissioner sent the matter back to the palace, with the belief that it would be best handled there.

Habiba’s parents also took the matter to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for intervention. Consequently, a press conference was held in Abuja, during which the Emir of Katsina was accused of abduction and forceful conversion of their daughter to Islam and marrying her off without their consent.

The Inspector General of Police and the commissioner of police, Katsina State command, were equally accused of mishandling the case.

Speaking through their lawyer, Yakubu Bawa, Habiba’s parents said she needed to be rescued “because she is still under the guardian and control of her parents until she gets to the age of maturity and accountability, which is 18.” They added that the Emir of Katsina did not have the right to forcefully convert their daughter to Islam.

Bawa said, “He has no right to do that. When the Commissioner of Police summoned the parties concerned to his office, what baffled me was the fact that a security detail said he was under instruction to bring the girl back to the emir’s palace. Unfortunately, the commissioner, who has the entire state command under his control, obeyed that instruction and released the girl to the palace. He instructed the man to go to the palace and take his daughter. With due respect, the Commissioner of Police failed in his constitutional duties as enshrined in the Police Act.

“When they got to the palace, the emir, through his aide, the Kilishin Katsina, told them that since their daughter had already converted to Islam, there was a big barrier between them. She had come out in a hijab and couldn’t look at her parents.

“Habiba’s father demanded that his daughter be released to him to practise her newly found faith in their home, but the emir refused, saying it was impossible.”