A fresh controversy has erupted in Kaduna State following allegations that a 17-year-old Christian girl, Jinkai Yusuf Simon, was abducted, forcefully converted to Islam, and married off in Kano, while authorities reportedly look the other way.
Disappearance of Jinkai
Jinkai, a student of St. Bartholomew’s Secondary School, Wusasa, Zaria, was declared missing on March 9, 2026, after she left home for school but never returned.
Her family now believes her disappearance was not accidental but a carefully executed plan.
Suspicion Within the Family
According to her elder sister, Jennifer Yusuf Simon, suspicion began after a neighbour revealed that Jinkai’s belongings had been quietly moved to a friend’s residence, identified as Rukkaiya. When confronted, Rukkaiya initially denied any knowledge.
Further findings showed Jinkai had allegedly been communicating with a man identified as “Abdulsamad,” who later gave conflicting identities when contacted.
School authorities confirmed she was present on the day she disappeared but left shortly after taking an examination and never came back.
Classmates also disclosed that she had spoken about relocating to Kano to join a Muslim boyfriend.
Reports to Authorities
The family escalated the matter to religious and traditional authorities, including the Sarkin Wusasa (village head of Wusasa in Zaria), who directed community leaders to produce the girl. The case was subsequently reported to the Department of State Services (DSS).
However, weeks after, the family says there has been no concrete outcome.
Alleged Change of Identity and Documents
Shockingly, the family was later shown a photograph allegedly depicting Jinkai dressed in a hijab, alongside documents said to have originated from Kano State where her identity had been changed to “Aisha Sani” and “Aisha Abdulsamad.”
The documents reportedly altered her age and listed a Muslim guardian and husband, raising serious legal and human rights concerns, including possible abduction, coercion, and identity falsification.
The Sarkin Wusasa, speaking on the matter, said he promptly alerted the DSS but no action was taken at the time, adding that the family was later confronted with images showing the girl under a new identity.
“When this disturbing issue was brought to my attention, I promptly alerted the DSS. However, no action was taken, and we were later confronted with images showing Jinkai, now reportedly renamed Aisha,” Sarkin Wusasa (Wusasa village head) said.
The family’s pastor, Rev. Mohammed Mohammed, described the situation as involving the abduction of a minor, forced conversion, and child marriage, calling for urgent intervention by security and child protection agencies.
“This is a case involving the abduction of a minor, coercion into religious conversion, and forced child marriage. We strongly condemn these actions and will not accept such violations of a child’s rights,” he said.
“We are calling on the DSS, the police, relevant child protection agencies, as well as religious and human rights organizations, to act urgently to investigate this situation and ensure the immediate safety and protection of the girl.”
Family Rejects Alleged Documents
The family insists Jinkai is 17 years old and not legally capable of consenting to such actions. They have presented her birth certificate, which shows she was born on January 8, 2009, to Yusuf Simon and Yakubu Rhoda.
“They produced fake documents where they falsified my sister’s age in order to get legal backing for their evil act; they were about to send me the pictures of my sister in hijab, and they erroneously sent one that several officials of Kano State Hisbah Board took with her,” Jennifer said.
“They did affidavit and changed her age. They wrote my name and my parents name on the court documents indicating that we consented to the marriage, which is a lie.”
The document shows she was born on January 8, 2009, and lists her parents as Yusuf Simon (father) and Yakubu Rhoda (mother).
Disputed Affidavit
However, an affidavit of facts and declaration of age, reportedly sworn by Jinkai at the High Court Registry of the Kano State Judiciary on March 18, 2026, has also surfaced.
It states, “I formerly known and called as Jinkai Simon Yusuf (when I am a Christian) now wish to be known and called as Aisha Simon Yusuf, female, adult, Muslim, of Pankshin Kubau LGA, Kaduna State, Nigeria, do hereby make oath and declare as follows: That I am 19 years of age; that I was born on the 10 JULY, 2006 in Pankshin Kubau LGA in Kaduna State; that at the time of my birth there was no any declaration of age or birth certificate issued to me; that I hereby depose to this affidavit all what I stated is true and correct; that this affidavit is made for official and record purposes; that I therefore want the authority concerned to take note; that I make this solemnly declaration conscientiously believing same to be true to the best of my knowledge and by virtue of provision of the Oath Act 2004.”
Hisbah Response
When contacted, Kano State Hisbah spokesperson, Auwal Ado, said he was out of town and requested time to verify the information before responding.
He had not provided any feedback as of the time this report was filed.
Jigawa Case Raises Double Standards Concerns
Observers say the apparent silence in Jinkai’s case contrasts sharply with the widely reported case of Walida Abdulhadi Ibrahim, a Muslim girl from Jigawa State.
In that case, Walida was allegedly taken away by a DSS operative, sparking outrage across northern Nigeria.
The DSS came under intense pressure from the Jigawa State Government and Islamic groups, leading to swift intervention.
Walida was eventually released and handed over to the state government after sustained public and institutional action.
The contrast between both cases has triggered widespread criticism, with human rights advocates questioning why a ‘Christian minor’ allegedly abducted and married off has not received the same urgency, despite the matter being formally reported to the DSS in Kaduna State.
Human rights advocates warn that selective response to such sensitive cases could undermine public trust and inflame religious tensions.
They are calling for an immediate, transparent investigation and the safe return of Jinkai