Muslim group, MURIC, demands arrest, prosecution of alleged abductor of Bayelsa minor

A rights group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC),  has called on Nigerian authorities to immediately ‎commence the prosecution of Yunusa Yellow, the man who allegedly abducted  a teenager from her Bayelsa home, and took her to Kano for underage marriage.

In a statement Tuesday morning by its Executive Director, Ishaq Akintola, MURIC said Yunusa‎’s action ”violated the law and caused a Christian family to go through a traumatic period‎.”

Mr Akintola said the alleged abductor should be charged to court in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, and then before a Sharia court in Kano if it is proven that he had canal knowledge of the girl.

”Our position is based on the fact that the girl is a minor,” the group said. ”Attempting to marry off the girl without her parent’s permission is not only a breach of common law but also a violation of the Shariah provision on the need for the parents’ approval before nikah (Islamic marriage) can be deemed valid (La nikah bila waliyyin)

”Of particular significance in this regard is the express command in the Glorious Qur’an that women should be married with the permission of their parents. The Qur’an says inter alia, “ …And marry them (i.e. women) with the permission of their parents(Qur’an 4:25).”

The group also said bringing Yunusa to book would ”serve as deterrent since this type of behaviour is capable of igniting anti-Muslim emotion.”

It commended ‎the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, for his role in the matter, saying he ”displayed immense understanding of the issues at stake and acted like a responsible leader and a knowledgeable Muslim by ordering that the girl should be returned to her family.‎”