By Mahmoud Muhammad Kano
Tension flared in Kano on Monday after law enforcement agencies, human rights advocates, and religious bodies converged at the Kano State Hisbah Board headquarters over the case of 18-year-old Aisha Simon Yusuf, who recently converted to Islam.
Aisha, who hails from Zaria, Kaduna State, reportedly left her parents’ home on her own and presented herself at the Hisbah office in Kano, declaring her intention to embrace Islam.
According to accounts given at the meeting, Aisha told officials that her decision was influenced by two main reasons: her admiration for Islamic modes of dressing and the practice of observing the five daily prayers.
The matter drew wide attention on Thursday when a joint team of police officers and operatives of the State Security Service, SSS, from Kaduna State arrived at the Hisbah headquarters, accompanied by Aisha’s mother and sister, seeking her release.
The team said they were acting on directives from the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, following a complaint by the family over Aisha’s sudden departure from Zaria and her current stay with Hisbah.
The visit led to a marathon 18-hour engagement involving the police, SSS, representatives of the Council of Ulama, the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, and human rights groups, all seeking clarity on Aisha’s status and welfare.
Narrating her experience before the gathering, Aisha explained that she borrowed ₦5,000 from a neighbor in Zaria to fund her trip to Kano, insisting that the decision to convert was personal and voluntary.
“I came here on my own. Nobody forced me. I want to live my new life as a Muslim,” Aisha was quoted as saying, adding that she had begun observing Islamic practices since arriving at the Hisbah office.
The situation became more complicated as the Director-General of the Kano Hisbah Board, Sheikh Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa, was said to be in Saudi Arabia for Hajj and unavailable to authorize any action regarding Aisha’s release.
Speaking to reporters, Head of Public Enlightenment at the Hisbah Commission, Malam Awalu Sheshe, said the board lacked the power to release Aisha in the absence of its DG. “Our boss, Sheikh Aminu Daurawa, traveled five days ago for a spiritual journey to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We cannot release the girl until he returns,” Sheshe stated.
He added that Hisbah had informed both the police and SSS teams from Kaduna that no officer present had the authority to hand Aisha over, despite the pressure and directives cited by the visiting security agencies.
As of the time of filing this report, Aisha Simon Yusuf remains in the custody of the Kano State Hisbah Board, with all parties agreeing to reconvene once Sheikh Daurawa returns from Hajj to determine the next steps.
The case has sparked broader conversation around freedom of religion, the rights of adults to choose faith, and inter-agency coordination in sensitive matters involving conversion, with CAN, the Council of Ulama, and human rights groups urging calm and due process from all sides.
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Editor -in-Chief MAHMOUD MUHAMMAD
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