Bauchi State DSS Accused of Contempt of Court Over Detained Teenager

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A 17-year-old girl, Faith Barnabas, has been detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) in Bauchi State for months despite a Federal High Court judgment ordering her release to her mother. Faith, a Christian, was allegedly forcibly converted to Islam by one Sadiq Ahmed Hussaini with the involvement of the Bauchi State Shari'ah Commission without her consent.

And now, Wholesome Attorneys, a Jos-based law firm representing Faith's mother, Mrs. Kumabe Zakari, has petitioned the Director of the DSS in Bauchi State, accusing the agency of contempt of court. The petition, dated July 9, 2026, was copied to the news outlet Arewa PUNCH.

According to the petition, Zakari regained custody of her daughter after Hussaini allegedly forced her conversion in April 2026. However, on April 30, 2026, Hussaini tracked down the teenager to Jos and abducted her to an undisclosed location. The Bauchi State Police Command later located the teenager and recovered her but transferred her to the Bauchi State Orphans and Vulnerable Children Agency, where she remains detained.

Despite existing court orders directing that she be reunited with her family, Faith is still being held at BASOVCA. The lawyers alleged that Hussaini was allowed access to the teenager while her mother and other relatives were denied similar access.

“Following the alleged conversion in April 2026, Mrs. Zakari initially regained custody of her daughter and relocated with her to Jos. However, on April 30, Sadiq Ahmed Hussaini tracked the teenager to Jos and abducted her to an undisclosed location,” the petition stated.

So, the lawyers have now urged the DSS to intervene and ensure compliance with the Federal High Court judgment, including the immediate reunification of Faith with her mother. In a statement issued on August 2, 2026, the Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Billiri Local Government Area Chapter, Gombe State, condemned the DSS for disobeying the court judgment. The group described the situation as an affront to the rule of law and the authority of the judiciary.

The Youth Wing argued that the continued custody of the teenager violated constitutional provisions relating to personal liberty, family life, and freedom of religion, as well as provisions of the Child Rights Act and the Bauchi State Child Protection Law. The group also referenced international instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Nigeria is a signatory to.

And it is not just the Youth Wing that is concerned. Lawyers say Faith's mother has suffered severe emotional trauma as a result of the circumstances surrounding her daughter's disappearance, separation from her, and continued detention.

In the wake of the controversy, the lawyers have urged the DSS to take immediate action to ensure compliance with the court judgment.

Laws and Regulations

The Bauchi State Child Protection Law, 2023, recognises parental authority over decisions concerning a minor's religion and welfare. Section 8 of the law states that a parent or guardian has the right to make decisions for their child regarding their education, health, and welfare.

International Instruments

Nigeria is a signatory to several international instruments that protect the rights of children, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.