Court orders arrest of DSS officer over teenager’s forced religious conversion

A magistrate court in Hadejia, Jigawa State, has ordered the arrest and investigation of a Department of State Services (DSS) officer, Mr. Ifeanyi Festus, over allegations of abducting, unlawfully detaining, and forcing the religious conversion of a 16-year-old girl.

The order, issued by His Worship Sadisu Musa in Suit No: DCC/01/2026 between Abdulhadi Ibrahim and Ifeanyi Festus, directs the Jigawa State Commissioner of Police to arrest and investigate Festus.

The court also instructed the DSS to immediately release and reunite the victim, Walida Abdulhadi, with her parents.

The case followed a petition by a group of lawyers under Gamji Lawchain, acting on behalf of Walida’s father, Abdulhadi Ibrahim.

The petition alleged that the officer had abducted Walida over two years ago, held her in unlawful detention, sexually exploited her, and forced her conversion from Islam to Christianity without parental consent. It also claimed she gave birth while underage.

The petition accused other DSS officers of complicity, describing the acts as institutional rather than isolated misconduct.

It condemned the abuse of power and called for the immediate suspension, arrest, and prosecution of Festus, along with an independent investigation of the DSS facility at Karmajji.

The lawyers stressed the severe psychological trauma inflicted on Walida’s family, noting that the prolonged distress contributed to the death of her mother.

They urged authorities to ensure the victim’s protection, reunification with her family, and accountability for any DSS personnel found complicit.

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