Tambuwal orders investigation into abduction of 14-yr-old girl in Sokoto

Posted by admin General Politics, Governors, Headlines, Sokoto, State News Thursday, March 3rd, 2016

By Emma Nnadozie, Jimoh Babatunde & Peter Duru Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has directed the state’s Human Rights Commission to wade into the alleged abduction of a 14-year-old Miss Patience Paul, on August 12, 2015. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, This came as Pan-Idoma group, Opiatoha K ‘Idoma, yesterday, pleaded with the Sultan of Sokoto, Mohammed Sa’ad Abubakar III, and Inspector General, Solomon Arase, to intervene and ensure the girl was released without delay.

The governor’s directive came against the backdrop of reports of forcible abduction of the Benue-born girl, who was alleged to be held in the palace of the Sultan. The governor, in a statement by his spokesman, Malam Imam Imam, said the commission should conduct a thorough investigation into the matter and report to him. The statement read: “On the case of alleged forceful abduction/forceful conversion of 15-year-old Patience Paul from Benue State, in Sokoto State, I wish to make the following statement.

“On Wednesday, March 2, Governor Aminu Tambuwal directed the state Human Rights Commission to undertake a thorough investigation into the allegations and report same to the government. “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.

“In the first 24 hours, the Commission has contacted the Sultanate Council and the state police command for a briefing. Kidnapped Patience AdajiKidnapped Patience Adaji “The Commission has also spoken to the state Hisbah Commission, as well as the person whose phone number was given in the initial allegation made online. “Despite efforts, however, the Rights Commission has been unable to contact the family of Patience Paul or anyone who will shed more light on the allegations. “It has now opened a public plea, urging Ms Paul’s family or representatives to contact it for a detailed briefing.”

Idoma group Meanwhile, a Pan-Idoma group, Opiatoha K ‘Idoma, yesterday pleaded with the Sultan of Sokoto and Inspector General to intervene and ensure the girl was released without delay. In a telephone interview yesterday in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, the Secretary General of the group, Chief Adoka Adaji, condemned the kidnap and called for the arrest of the masterminds of the act. Adaji, who berated security agencies for failing in their duties over their inability to trace the missing girl, six months after her disappearance, urged them to be alive to their responsibilities.

The family should come forward—CP The state Commissioner of Police, Salisu Fagge, yesterday, appealed to parents and relations of the girl to report to his office for police to be able to trace her whereabouts. The police boss, who spoke with Vanguard on telephone, stated that nobody from the family of the abducted primary six pupil of Mohamed Zako Model Primary School, Sokoto, had reported to his office for action to be taken over the matter. He said: “As we speak, I have not seen either the brother or the father of the girl. They should come to us. We want to know where the girl is and we want to trace her. Let them come now (5p.m.); I am still in the office waiting for them.”

-Vanguardwp_posts