The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) Jigawa State Command rescued a 25-year-old lady who had been imprisoned in a room by her father for many years.
CSC Adamu Shehu, the state corps’s spokesperson, stated in a statement on Wednesday, May 31, 2023, that investigators had apprehended the victim’s father and stepmother.
He stated that the development came as a result of a report submitted at the NSCDC State Command Headquarters by a human rights activist alleging that a young woman called Ummi had been locked up in a room within the house for several years without being permitted to go out by her father.
Shehu said, “The operatives raced to the residence and rescued the young woman, who looked emaciated and unkempt, adding that the room she was confined up in functioned as her toilet.
“One Garba Musa ‘M’ aged 67 of Takur Site, Dustse LGA, Jigawa State, and his wife Aisha Abubakar ‘F’ aged 50 were arrested by operatives of the NSCDC Jigawa State Command on Friday, 26th of May, 2023 on a suspected case of violence against person,” the statement read.
“This followed a complaint filed at the NSCDC State Command Headquarters by one Human Rights Activist who reported receiving information from the suspect’s neighbors that a girl of about 25 years old named Ummi, the suspect’s daughter, has been locked up in a room within the house for several years without being allowed to leave.”
“Upon receiving the complaint, NSCDC operatives rushed to the house and rescued the 25-year-old man who appeared emaciated, unkempt, and depressed.” Her living room serves as her toilet, where she urinates, and her meals are served on the bare floor.
“According to the father, his daughter has a mental illness and was gallivanting around causing problems in the neighborhood, which is why she was locked up.” He provided a Hospital Out Patient Card issued in 2013, 2014 and 2018 from Kazaura Psychiatric Hospital in Jigawa State, where he was treating her.
“Investigation also revealed that Ummi’s mother separated from her father, her husband, about 30 years ago and was denied visiting her children, despite having six with him.”
“With the exception of Ummi’s brother, who is a public servant, the other four (4) siblings are married.” Ummi’s mother is married and lives in Huguma Town, Kano State.
“The Command is looking into the root cause of her mental illness based on the fact that she was healthy up to Junior Secondary School level prior to her disappearance, as well as finding a solution to end her suffering.”
