A Nigerian university student who converted from Islam to Christianity has been arrested by state security forces, as has the man who introduced her to Christianity, according to reports in mid-January.
Nabila Umar Sanda, 19, is a student at Bingham University in Karu, which is owned by one of Nigeria’s major churches. While studying there, she became friends with Simput Dafup, a Christian, who, once she expressed an interest in Christianity, invited her to meet a local church leader, Jeremiah Datim.
House stormed
Datim explained to the press that, after Nabila decided to become a Christian, he immediately made contact with the local Islamic organisation, as has become customary. Datim then met with a local Islamic leader, who made contact with Nabila’s parents. Later that day, Datim said detectives from the Department of state Security Services (DSS): ‘stormed my house, assaulted my wife, daughter and eight-month-old baby, and took Nabila away’. Her friend, Simput Dafup, was also arrested, and both are still being held in an unknown location.