By Hasan Usman
Minna
Two kidnapped Igbo teenage girls, Miracle Nweke, 17; and Okwudiri Nwodo, 16, have been reportedly sited at Emir’s palace in Suleja preparatory to their marriage to some moslems after their conversion to islam.
The girls’ employer and relation, Mr. Ndubuisi Sunday, reported their kidnap to Gwada Police station in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State on May 27, 2018.
The girls are said to have been relocated from the palace and kept in the custody of an Islamic group, which engineered their kidnap, in Suleja, where they working in the eatery owned by Ndubuisi Sunday in Gwada.
Investigations by our correspondent revealed that the two girls were kidnapped on their way to work.
On the clue to the whereabouts of the missing girks, Sunday said that he had a tip-off from one of the local boys, who said that he overheard when one of the moslem boys, one Shamsudeen, was discussing with someone on phone about the girls being moved from Gwada to the Emir’s palace in Suleja preparatory to their being given out in marriage.
Sunday said he later met one Mallam Habib Madaki, at Victory road, Suleja, who claimed to be the leader of the Islamic group, Niger State Muslim Enhancement Organisation, who also acknowledged having Okwudiri and Miracle in their custody.
According to Sunday, all entreaties to allow him have face-to-face interaction with Miracle and Okwudiri proved abortive as he was told by Habib that he was under instructions from a top state government functionary not to release the girls or allow anyone, including their benefactor access to them.
Meanwhile, the suspect, Shamsudeen Bashir, has been arrested and confessed his involvement in the disappearance of Miracle and Okwudiri.
He also disclosed how plans were being made to have the girls converted to Islam.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mohammed Abubarkar, confirmed that Miracle and Okwudiri were ‘abducted’ from Gwada and taken to Suleja by Shamsudeen and others still at large.
The PPRO said, “On the 28th of May, 2018, one Ndubuisi Sunday reported case of his missing girls living with him by names; Miracle Nweke, 17 years, and Okwdiri Nwodo, 16 years, who, are both helping him and his wife in their business”.
While the Police are yet on theories to unraveling the mystery, the PPRO said Sunday came back to inform the police how he discovered that some boys working for him had perfected the disappearance of Miracle and Okwudiri from where they were selling food in Gwada.
“In July, 23rd 2018, Ndubuisi came back to the station again to update the police that he has got clues to the whereabouts of Miracle and Okwudiri and to report 29-year-old Shamsudeen Bashir, and Awwal Abubarkar, both from Sokoto State for knowing something about his missing girls”.
The PPRO said that police have also intensified manhunt for other culprits linked to the case.