Controversy trails 19-year-old girl's conversion to Christianity from Islam

Controversy trails 19-year-old girl's conversion to Christianity from Islam

- Controversy has trailed the conversion of a 19-year-old Muslim to Christianity

- The girl was said to have met a man, Engineer Simput Dafup, for the first time in Dubai on his way to Nigeria from the United Kingdom

- Nabila was further led to an Evangelist Jerry Datim for counselling by Dafup

An alleged conversion of a 200-level student of Bingham University, Karu, Nasarawa state, Nabila Galadima, has raised a lot of controversy in Jos, Plateau state capital city.

Guardian reports that Nabila had met a man, Engineer Simput Dafup, for the first time in Dubai on his way to Nigeria from the United Kingdom.

It was gathered that the duo exchanged pleasantries and contacts.

Nabila, 19, who was said to have had interest in Christianity called bluff her father's possible reaction to her conversion to Islam after Dafup had asked the question.

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She was further led to an Evangelist Jerry Datim for counselling by Dafup.

However, speaking to journalists in Jos, Datim said he sought a discussion with leaders of Islamic religion, knowing the implication of a conversion on the relationship between the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Jamatu Nasril Islam (JNI).

Datim said after he met with the leadership of JNI with Dafup, detectives from the Department of State Security Service (DSS) stormed his house, assaulted his wife, daughter and eight-month-old baby, and whisked Nabila away.

He said: "As I address you, we do not know the whereabouts of Engineer Simput Dafup and Daniel Hassan, the taxi driver whose vehicle Miss Nabila boarded from Abuja to Jos.

"I want to state for the avoidance of doubt that the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees the right of anyone to propagate his faith and the right to also practice any religion of one’s choice. Miss Nabila told me she is 19 years old and therefore free to choose a religion for herself.

"I understand that her father has said he has all the connection in this country to deal with me, Engineer Dafup and any other person found to have converted his daughter to Christianity, and that he will ensure we rot in jail.

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"I want to state here, without fear of contradiction, that Engineer Dafup, myself or any other person that has established any contact with Nabila, has breached any law of this land."

Challenging the DSS to produce Nabila, Datim said he would appreciate a face to face meeting with her to confirm if she was ever forced to convert to Christianity.

"She is of age. Let her speak for herself on this matter. Let the whole world hear her.

"In the event that his abductors insist on keeping him, wherever he is, I will begin to mobilise any moment after this press conference. They must not only release him immediately, they must ensure that he is in a good state of health. And the DSS must stop the harassment of members of my family or that of the family of Engineer Dafup or any other person allegedly involved in the conversion of Miss Nabila," the Evangelist said.

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Legit.ng earlier reported that a Nollywood actress, Liz Anjorin, narrated why she converted from Christianity to Islam.

Anjorin who converted to Islam about five years ago said revealed that the attitude of some pastors when her other died made change her mind.

She said her mother was born into a Muslim home but married a Christian man, however, when poverty struck and they became homeless, they sought refuge in churches, sleeping in different churches at night.

Ex Bishop David Abioye's driver quits Living Faith Church, converts to Islam - on Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Nnenna Ibeh avatar

Nnenna Ibeh Nnenna Ibeh is a journalist with over 10 years of experience with various media organisations including Premium Times. Being on the front burner of reporting politics and the different dimensions of governance, she is also passionate about girls' education and women's and children's health. With degrees in Journalism, Peace Studies & Conflict Res., and Dev. Studies, Nnenna has worked in the dev. sector as a communications officer for the Centre for Democracy and Dev. email: ibehnnenna@gmail.com

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