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Plateau family raises the alarm over alleged abduction and forceful conversion of their underage daughter, Jinkai Yusuf Simon, from Christianity to Islam, seeks intervention of Plateau and Kaduna states, DSS, NAPTIP and police amid killings in Barkin Ladi
From Jude Owuamanam, Jos
Miss Jinkai Yusuf Simon, a 17-year- old student of St. Bartholomew Anglican School, Zaria, Kaduna State, was staying with her sister, Jennifer, at the Wusasa area of the same Zaria when she disappeared on March 9, 2026,
According to her uncle, Mr. Thomas Yusuf Mwaji, who narrated the incident to Daily Sun in Jos, the capital of Plateau State, Jennifer left Jinkai at home while she went to work where she served as a restaurant attendant.
However, Jinkai, who was supposed to have returned from school, was nowhere to be found later that day. Jennifer was searching for her when a neighbour told her that she saw a girl named Queen, who lived in the same compound with Jinkai, carrying Jinkai’s bag out of the house to the house of friend named Rukkaya.
When Jennifer questioned Rukkaya, she initially denied seeing Jinkai or her bag. She also questioned Rukkaya’s mother and sister, who also denied seeing her. It was then that Rukkaya’s younger sister mentioned that Jinkai usually communicated with a boy named Abdul Samad.
However, when the family contacted Abdul Samad, he admitted to communicating with Jinkai online but denied meeting her.
Mwaji said Jennifer reported Jinkai’s disappearance to her school and a teacher confirmed seeing Jinkai leave the school premises during an examination. She said when the teacher questioned her, she told him she would return, but she never did.
He narrated that: “It was then Jinkai’s friends revealed she had a boyfriend in Kano named Abdul Samad, who promised to relocate her from Zaria to Kano and change her school. We reported the matter to the Bishop, who then involved the Galadima of Wusasa community in Zaria, who further escalated it to the Miangwa of Kuregu community.
“When the Miangwa of Kuregu was informed, he confirmed that he was aware of the situation. He offered to take us to where Jinkai was in Kano, but with the condition that they should not force her to follow us home. We were taken aback by that condition, but insisted that he should take us to where Jinkai was, nonetheless.
“We also discovered discrepancies in Jinkai’s personal details. While she is from Pankshin in Plateau State and Ngas by tribe, some documents claimed she was born in Pankshin in Kubau Local Government of Kaduna State.
“I have lived in Kaduna for many years and I know that there is nowhere called Pankshin in Kaduna State. We only have Pankshin in Plateau State.
“Furthermore, an affidavit stated she was 19 years old, contradicting her birthdate of January 8, 2009. Her name was also changed to Aisha Mwanji.”
He said that the family was in possession of a picture of Rukkaya with Hisbah officials, phone numbers of Abdul Samad and the malam Jinkai is reportedly staying with in Kano.
“At that time, we felt that no significant action was being taken by the local authorities. So we contacted an NGO called Advocados Africa for assistance.
“The NGO has provided a lawyer and has submitted a petition to the commissioner of police in Kaduna State, with copies sent to the governor’s office and the inspector-general of police.
“Our investigation strongly suggested that Jinkai was lured away from her home and school, likely by her online boyfriend, Abdul Samad, with the potential involvement of Rukkaya and others in a scheme that may include forced conversion to Islam and relocation to Kano.”
Mwaji deplored the initial response from local community leaders, especially the Miangwa of Kuregu and the Sarkin Wusasa, who appeared to have been slow and ineffective, leading the family to seek external help.
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“From the family’s perspective, the Miangwa’s offer to facilitate a meeting with Jinkai under specific conditions suggests a degree of complicity or at least a lack of urgency in resolving the situation: The discrepancies in Jinkai’s age and the alleged involvement of an older boyfriend raise serious concerns about exploitation and potential child trafficking. The claim of forced conversion further exacerbates these concerns.
“We are, therefore, calling on the police and all the relevant authorities aware of this case to help us in rescuing her from her abductors.”
A friend of Jennifer’s, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told Daily Sun that he was contacted by Jennifer for help. He said he immediately went into action by gathering information on the case and forwarding it to Advocatus.
He said: “The key evidence I gathered was that Jennifer, while investigating her sister’s situation, reported it to Sarkin Wusasa and the Miangwa of Kuregu.
“Sarkin Wusasa told her plainly that her sister was in Kano and had been Islamized, showing her a picture of her sister in a hijab.
“When Jennifer asked for the pictures, Sarkin sent the picture to Jennifer through WhatsApp, but he mistakenly sent other documents along with it.
“These documents contained falsified information about the sister’s age and other details, presented in a court affidavit.
“The falsified documents and affidavit clearly indicated that the operation was carried out with the machinery of the Kano State government. This provided concrete evidence for pursuing the matter.”
The Plateau State Youth Council (PYC), in reaction to the incident, called on the state government to take action and rescue the minor immediately.
In a statement signed by the chairman, Panan Gongden Dapar, and the public relations officer, Bahal Nanpyal Mark, the PYC described the abduction of the girl as a case of child trafficking and urged both state governments and other authorities to do everything possible to rescue her, arrest and prosecute her abductors.
The statement said: “The Plateau State Youth Council condemns the forceful abduction and religious coercion of a 17-year-old student, Miss Jinkai Yusuf Simon, and hereby calls for the immediate intervention from security agencies to secure her release.
“Miss Jinkai, an indigene of Danchor in Pankshin Local Government Area of Plateau State, is a Senior Secondary School 1 student. Her family currently resides in Banki, Kubau LGA, Kaduna State.
“Jinkai left home for school on an unspecified date but never returned. Days of searching ended when her school bag was discovered in the possession of a minor allegedly linked to a neighbour identified as Rukkaya.
“Rukkaya initially denied knowledge of Jinkai’s whereabouts. She later disclosed that the teenager had been in communication with a man identified as Abdul Samad.
“The council has received disturbing photographic evidence showing the minor dressed in a hijab alongside Rukkaya. More alarming were alleged court affidavits from Kano State indicating her name had been changed to “Aisha Sani” and “Aisha Abdul Samad,” with her age also altered.
“This act is reprehensible and violates multiple provisions of the 1999 Constitution, including Section 38 on freedom of religion, Section 34 on human dignity, and Section 35 on personal liberty as well as Section 27 of the Child Rights Act 2003, which prohibits the unlawful removal of a child from the custody of parents or guardians.
“As a minor, Miss Jinkai cannot legally give informed consent. The council is, therefore, demanding a thorough investigation by the Plateau and Kaduna state governments, Department of State Services, NAPTIP and the Nigeria Police Force to ensure her rescue, rehabilitation and safe reunification with her family, and a prompt identification, arrest and prosecution of everyone involved, because this case bears the clear markings of child trafficking, exploitation, and abuse.
“We will continue to pursue justice until Miss Jinkai is safely returned to her family.”
When our correspondent contacted the man supposedly living with Jinkai in Kano, he initially admitted that she was with him. When he asked how our correspondent got his number and he was told it was from a member of Jinkai’s family, he denied knowing her, claiming that the number was wrong.
Also, efforts to speak with the Miangwa, Abdull Samad and the Sarkin Wusasa were not successful as their phone numbers could not be reached.
The Plateau State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Caroline Dafur, said she was not aware of the case and directed our correspondent to speak with chairperson of the Gender and Disabilities Commission, Mrs. Olivia Dazyam.
But Dazyam was not forthcoming.
