A worried and troubled family of Yusuf Simon, from Pankshin Local Government Area of Plateau State, has petitioned the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police over the alleged abduction, conversion to Islam, and forced marriage of their 17-year-old daughter, Jinkai Simon.
According to the Simon family in the petition to the police, their daughter Jinkai was living with her eldest sister, Jennifer Simon, in Kuregu area of Zaria, Kaduna State when she was abducted and forcefully converted into Islam and married off forcefully without the consent of her parents or relations
The petition dated May 6, 2026, stated that the 17-year-old Jinkai, who was a student of St. Bartholomew’s Secondary School, Wusasa, Zaria, suddenly disappeared on March 9, 2026, after leaving home for school.
The petition by the family which was written by the family’s lawyer, stated that the underaged girl, Jinkai was last seen with a neighbour identified as Ruqaiya, who also resides in Kuregu.
It stated that Ruqaiya later informed the family that the Jinkai had been converted to Islam and taken to Kano, where she was handed over to the Kano State Hisbah Board.
The family also stated that the Kano State Hisbah Board subsequently changed the girl’s name and age and married her off after converting her to Islam.
The petition stated; “The Hisbah Board, upon receiving the girl, 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”.
The petition with attached documents indicated that the underaged girl was taken to a Kano State High Court where she swore to an affidavit declaring that she was 19 years old.
The parents of Jinkai pointedly accused the Kano Hisbah Board of deliberately falsifying documents to facilitate the process based on their “sinister” plan.
According to the petition; “In order 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”.
Accordingly, the parents of Jinkai, urged the Commissioner of police to as a matter of urgency and importance, investigate the matter and ensure the rescue and safe return of their daughter to them.
“It is with these in mind that we write that you use your good office and cause for an investigation into the matter with a view of returning Miss Jinkai safely. No one is above the law and a religious body, as beacon of truth, respect for parents is meant to ensure peaceful coexistence in the society,” the family of Jinkai insisted.
The petition particularly referenced a judgement of the Supreme Court 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 Jinkai’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.
