Freedom For Wasila

AFTER one year of legal mishmash, Wasila Umar, regained her freedom: she allegedly killed her husband, his three friends, and injured others. She was 14. Wise men in her community in Gaya Local Government Area of Kano State found her a husband.

 
Tragedy struck 17 days into her forced marriage. Wasila reportedly poisoned the food she served her husband – she wanted her freedom. She did not reckon with the camaraderie her community shares during meal times. Her husband’s friends who ate the food were also victims of the poison.

 
Her story is pathetic and reflects a revolt of children in forced marriages. Their guardians think they have no opinion, but they have. Wasila wanted education; nobody listened to her.

 
“I have never enjoyed the opportunity of going to Islamic school or acquiring Western education. My father forced me into this mess by stubbornly forcing me into a relationship I was not prepared to live in,” she said of the marriage to her 35-year-old husband, Sani.

 
Kano State Police Command Public Relations Officer, ASP Magaji Musa Majia, had then said, “The case has been referred to appropriate authorities for the next line of action. I am assuring you that Wasila would appear in court soon because we have limitation on the number of days we can keep a suspect no matter the perceived weakness of the case or the personality involved”.

 
Wasila, who confessed to the crime, became dramatic in court. She was incoherent after the charges were read. Pressure mounted on the Kano State Government to free her. The trial continued.

 
Section 29 (4) (a) of the 1999 Constitution, states, “full age” means the age of eighteen years and above; (b) any woman who is married shall be deemed to be of full age.” Those who married off Wasila at 14 broke the law. The law did not punish them.

 
The Child’s Rights Act of 2003 prohibits child marriages and betrothals. In Section 21, any marriage contracted by anyone less than 18 years is invalid. Under Section 22: “(1) No parent, guardian or any other person shall betroth a child to any person”. Both provisions are in the Criminal and Penal Codes, though they are hardly enforced.

 

Wasila’s belated release does not amount to obedience of the law. She should not have been married in the first place, being a child. How would she cope with the trauma of her ordeal? Would the State provide the professional care she needs?

 
What happens to millions of other endangered children, some in similar marriages and others destined for them? Wasila, tragically, gave them a voice. We should not wait for another Wasila to free our children.

 
Curled from vanguardngr.com

Nigeria: Hajj 2015: Kaduna Holds Train- the -Trainer Workshop on Pilgrimage

By Mohammad Ibrahim

Kaduna (Nigeria) – Kaduna State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has organised a train-the-trainer programme for islamic scholars and pilgrims Welfare Officers on pilgrim’s enlightenment in the state.

The participating officers were drawn from the 23 local government areas of the Northwestern state.

The workshop was titled” Train the Trainers on Pilgrim’s Enlightenment”.

Executive Secretary of the Board, Alhaji Kabir Kasim charged participants to take the training seriously.

He explained that it was vital for intending pilgrims to acquire full knowledge of tenets of hajj before embarking on the journey.

” Hajj is a very important journey to all muslims who can afford it, so we must make sure those going for the religious journey get full knowledge of it.

“We must educate them on the tenets of Hajj so that they get the rewards set aside for those who observed hajj rights properly.

“We feel we should organize this training to ourselves before training the intending pilgrims on the rudiments of hajj activities right from Nigeria and in Saudi Arabia,” he said.

The Executive Secretary warned the pilgrims officers to remind intending pilgrims that Hajj is not a tourism, but religious journey.

On his part, Chairman House Committee on pilgrims at the State House of Assembly, Garba Turawa also commended the Board for the conduct of a successful 2014 hajj exercise in the state.

The Board’s Trustees Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Garba Maitsukuni lauded the board management for their efforts in educating the state’s intending pilgrims.

He prayed for a successful and hitch free 2015 hajj exercise.

Nigerian Religious Body Mourns Demise of Abuja Chief Imam

By Mohammad Ibrahim

Kaduna (Nigeria) – Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) has commiserated with Nigerian Muslims over the demise of Sheikh Musa Muhammad (Chief Imam, National Mosque, Abuja), and condoles all for the great loss.

A statement signed by the group’s Secretary General, Dr Khalid Abubakar Aliyu said Sheikh Musa was a figure of unity among the Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

The statement describes Sheikh Musa as a renowned Muslim Scholar of high pedigree, intelligent, humble, affable and above all Allah fearing; he dedicated his whole life to the service of Islam and humanity in general.

“He greatly inspired his followers with his exemplary lifestyle, moral conduct and teachings.

“He stood out as a passionate and diligent promoter of inter-religious understanding and co-operation.

“He would be remembered as a bridge-builder and a gentleman in every circumstance.”

Until his death he was an active member of the JNI highest decision making organ (the Central Council).

“His death is a pointer to us that death is inevitable. Therefore, we should be conscious of our actions and inactions, such that once we are no more alive, we would be remembered for what we lived for.

“We therefore, pray that Allah’s Maghfirah and Rahmah will be with the late Imam, we also wish the deceased’s family and the entire Muslim Ummah the fortitude to bear the loss,” the statement reads.

Nigeria: Hajj 2015: Kaduna Pilgrims Board Remits 1.5 billion Naira to Hajj Commission

By Mohammad Ibrahim

Kaduna (Nigeria) – Kaduna State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has paid National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) over 1.5 billion Naira, being part payment for 2015 Hajj fares of intending pilgrims from the state.

The amount represent 50 percent of the total number of Hajj seats allocated to the state by NAHCON this year.

Executive Secretary of the Board, Muhammad Kabiru Kasimu made this known to newsmen in Kaduna.

Kasimu said the remittance was in line with the directive of the NAHCON which slated 30th April as deadline for the collection and remittance of Hajj fare for this year’s intending pilgrims.

A statement by the Board’s Public Relation Officer, Yunusa Muhammad Abdullahi explains that NAHCON has allocated 5,628 Hajj seats to Kaduna State.

The statement further says the Board will this week flag off Train the Trainer workshop for Pilgrims Officers and Ulamas that will conduct weekly mandatory training for the intending pilgrims in the 23 Local government Areas of the state.

It also explains that a five man delegation sent to Saudi Arabia by the State Government had secured a befitting accommodation for the comfort of the state pilgrims in the Holy city of Makkah.

The statement added that the Board is committed to ensuring a hitch free Hajj exercise this year.