Escape of detainee from Islamic group detention sparks reactions in Bauchi

Reactions have continued to trail the escape of an upcoming female advocate reportedly arrested by Islamic group, Izala, in Bauchi, last Sunday.

It was gathered that the activist Ivie Omogun was whisked away by agents of Izala Islamic group who invaded her residence at Kofar Dumi neighbourhood of the state capital.

Her husband Henry and their children were said to have thereafter fled the house to unknown location as news of a clandestine arrangement to raze the building, reached them.

Ivie has been a formidable voice against child marriage which is a common cause of Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF) suffered by many young women in the North, and an advocate of girl child education in Bauchi.

It was learnt that her arrest last Sunday was orchestrated by some Islamic leaders, politicians including the influential head of the district, after a 14-year-old girl, Zainab who was inspired by Ivie’s advocacy, abandoned her forced marriage.

The activist escape after four days in the Islamic group detention facility in Bauchi has been viewed by some individuals and groups especially the Christians as a divine intervention.

“Ivie is my bosom friend, we both grew up in Kagoro, Kaura local government area of Southern Kaduna in Kaduna State.

“I can tell you for free that there is a plot to eliminate Ivie and her family by the powers that be because they see her and her message as evil and anti-Islam without recourse to knowing what led to it.

Since our neighbour here in Bauchi, Halima bowed to VVF a year ago, Ivie vowed to help victims of VVF and forced marriage.

“To pursue that passion, in 2020 Ivie quit her job as a Community Health Coordinator at the Bauchi State Ministry of Health.

“By 2020, Ivie, her husband Henry, Tayo and Steve Agbike started a campaign against early marriage of young girls in Bauchi. They went from school to school and community to community, teaching girls and parents about the risks of early marriage and advocating for girl-child education.

“So the men are not comfortable with it. They want to get rid of her by all means possible”, a female resident explained.

A man who identified himself simply as Malam Idris said Ivie escape from “lawful custody” amounted to self guilt and Allah condemnation.

“She will be rearrested soon to pay for her transgressions. She and her team wilfully desecrated our tradition, religion and customs.

“They initially reported us to the Nigeria Police accusing us of threat to life. We have our agents everywhere in Nigeria even in Ghana and some other African countries. She can’t escape forever I assure you”, he stated.

Alhaji Tanko Umar whose 14year-old wife, Zainab allegedly abandoned said his wife Zainab became uncontrollable after meeting with Ivie’s advocacy group.

Speaking on the incident, the spokesman, Bauchi state police Command SP Ahmed Wakil condemned the arrest and detention.

“First let us thank God that the lady Ivie Omogun has divinely regained her freedom.

“The Nigeria police force will and has never encouraged anyone or group to engage in self help. I am aware that her advocacy group reported a case of threat to life to the police in charge of her neighbourhood. We were looking into it when Izala Islamic group struck”, SP Wakil stated.

Contacted on the telephone, a man who identified himself as the Izala group spokesman in Bauchi, Mohammed Danko said his group never arrested or detained a female activist, Ivie Omogun in Bauchi.