For Mr. Gopep, a 60-year-old farmer, life has become hopeless. The last seven and a half months has been a nightmare since his daughter, Blessing was kidnapped and married off.

Speaking to jounralists, he said “they have taken my Blessing. I am heartbroken. I can’t eat or sleep. I have been in a state of trauma since her disappearance,” he lamented.
The father of nine who resides in Yalang village in Pankhin LGA in Plateau State wants his 13-year-old daughter, Blessing back.

According to him, Blessing was kidnapped in August 2015 in Alkaleri, Bauchi State by two men, who he identified as Iliya and Umaru, both living in Alkaleri.

“Blessing and her friend, Mary, were on their way back to Jos after spending their holidays with Blessing’s uncle in Bauchi. They went to the Alkaleri motor park, sat in a bus and as they awaited the bus to be filled with passengers, two men identified as Iliya and Umaru, came on a motorcycle and took Blessing away,” he said.

Gopep said he doesn’t know why only his daughter was abducted.
Mary was said to have gone back to the uncle and reported what happened to Blessing. Blessing’s uncle, who they spent the holidays with, then reported to the Alkaleri Police Station. When interrogated, Mary reportedly acknowledged to have seen the men in the neighbourhood where they lived with the uncle. From there, the Gopeps swung into action. Through information from the public, they located Iliya’s residence and he allegedly admitted to have kidnapped Blessing. He then, confessed to have handed her over to Umaru.

The distraught father said, “When we went to see Umaru, we were told that we could not take her back home. Again, we invited the police for these men’s arrest. When policemen came to arrest them, the men still insisted we could not take Blessing back home.”

In a bid to resolve the matter, Gopep said they (the family) were invited alongside his daughter’s abductors to the police station in Alkaleri.

“The men (abductors) came with a group of people. They also brought Blessing, who was dressed and covered with ahijab. But they kept her afar off. They told the police to tell us that we should forget about our daughter; that she has become a convert and would never return to us.

“The Commissioner of Police, Bauchi State, Mohammed Mohammed, who was also present, asked them to return her back to us, but they didn’t. The CP also questioned the claim by the abductors of Blessing’s conversion to Islam. They said Blessing was 17 years old and was old enough to make decisions on her own. But I objected saying she is just 13. Suddenly, the crowd started chanting religious phrases and issuing threats and we left the police station in fear. We have visited the Bauchi State police headquarters several times afterwards but nothing has happened.”

When journalist contacted the Police Public Relations Officer, Bauchi State Police Command, DSP Haruna Mohammed, on the telephone, he denied knowledge of any case of abduction of Blessing or any 13-year-old. “I am not aware of such a matter, but we will investigate,” Mohammed said.
The abductors, according to Blessing’s family, made a mention at the police station that they had taken her to the Da’Awa Shari’ah Commission.

Gopep said, “Based on what Iliya and Umaru narrated at the police station, Blessing is with the Shari’ah Commission. When we asked if she has been married off to someone, they said no. But we know it isn’t true. We also heard that the Shari’ah Commission handed her over to one mallam.”
When contacted, the Director, Da’awah & the Islamic Education Department, Shari’ah Commission, Bauchi State, Mr. Mohammed Idris, also denied knowledge of such an incident. He said, “The Commission is not aware of such case, but we will get back to you.”

As at the time of filing this report, the commission was yet to get back.

Culled from http://www.punchng.com/blessing-gopep-stolen-at-12-from-a-bauchi-motor-park/

count | 652

Plateau girl kidnapped and allegedly married off in Bauchi