Muslim police in Nigeria’s Kano state have detained a 15-year-old Christian girl who has gone missing since December 1, over concerns that she may be forcibly converted to Islam, officials said.
According to media outlet Sahara Reporters, Pastor Kabiru Usman said that the Kano State Hisbah Committee, an Islamic police force accused of enforcing sharia (Islamic law) on Muslims, had discovered that they were holding Umi Tambaya at Rogo Garrison.
“After a long search and constant efforts, it was discovered that the girl wanted to convert to Islam and was in the custody of Hisbah Commander Mallam Sani in Rogo,” Pastor Usman told Sahara Reporters.
Efforts by Suleiman Ibrahim, the divisional police officer in charge of the logo, and Umar Abdulkadir, the village’s district chief, were unsuccessful, and pastor Usman said the Hisbah commander had refused to release the girl.
Wunmi hails from Kadafa Bari area in Logo local government area.
Pastor Usman accused the Department of State Services (DSS) in the region of failing to act.
“In fact, one of the local government officials collected up to 20,000 naira (approximately $14), claiming that the officials at headquarters needed it to buy fuel,” Pastor Usman told SaharaReporters. “We are appealing to the relevant authorities for assistance. Umi’s family is traumatized and we do not know her current situation. There have been five other similar cases of forced conversion of girls in the area, and we are worried that the perpetrators will flee.”
Pastor Usman reportedly deceptively told Hisbah commanders that “human rights factions” had taken Umi’s custody.
“Commander Hisbah is fully aware of her whereabouts,” he was quoted as saying. “Anyone concerned please come and help.”
He told Sahara Reporters that people close to the Hisbah commander had revealed the identity of those involved in Ummi’s abduction.
“People close to the Hisbah commander have revealed that Abba Shesh, Mansil Surajo and Tasiu Bello were the ones who kidnapped her for a month and prevented her from seeking medical help, despite her mental illness,” he was quoted as saying.
Umi’s family claimed that her abduction was arranged by a young Muslim man who had repeatedly asked her to marry him despite her refusal. Shams Tambaya, a relative of Umi, told Sahara Reporter that the Muslim man had “influenced” her and she no longer listens to anyone but him.
Tambaya said her kidnappers moved her to different locations before taking her to Hisbah commander Sani.
“So this Sani came later and said the girl is in a better place than our home,” he told SaharaReporters.
Tambaya refuted Umi’s claims that she had reported the family to human rights organizations.
“And God is my witness. Only God knows that this girl had no idea what human rights were in this world,” he was quoted as saying.
The family reported the matter to the police in Logo and later to the Kano State Police Headquarters, but the police officers took no further action after they allegedly asked for “transportation expenses.” Tambaya said Umi was not of legal age to change his religion and “also has mental health issues.”
He appealed for government assistance.
“If the government will investigate this matter for us, I would like them to investigate it and bring my daughter to me,” he reportedly said.
When SaharaReporters contacted Mr. Sani, he asked for the name of the complainant. After being informed that it was Umi’s family, he refused to provide further details, the media reported. Mr. Sani insisted to Abuja-based reporters that they needed to visit his office in Kano State for further information.
Ibrahim Dikko, a former Muslim and now Christian evangelist, appealed for help in a Facebook post.
“Why would Muslims and Hisbah break the law, kidnap a 15-year-old girl and forcefully convert her to Islam?” he wrote. “We have to release that girl to her parents and the church.”
Nigeria ranks seventh out of the 50 most difficult countries to be a Christian in Open Doors’ 2026 World Watch List.
