Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has promised to work with his Kano State counterpart, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, in ensuring the release and return of 13-year-old Ese Oruru, who was reportedly kidnapped and taken to Kano, converted to Islam and forcefully married to one Yinusa.
This was disclosed in a statement by a non-governmental organisation, Kindling Hope Across Nations Initiative, which has been working with Ese’s parents to secure her release.
DAILY POST recalls that the Child Protection Network group, Bayelsa State Chapter, had called on the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, to intervene in the release of Ese, who was allegedly abducted by Yinusa, an indigene of the state.
Yinusa who resides in Opolo, Yenagoa, had abducted Ese on August 12, 2015 and eloped with her to Kano and has refused to allow her return home. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Oruru, had allegedly made several visits to Kano to secure her release.
According to the statement, the governor had during a meeting with KHAN Initiative officials on Sunday, expressed concern over the incident and pleaded with the NGO to allow him intervene in the issue.
Prior to this, the KHAN Initiative is said to have cancelled a rally, aimed at drawing attention to the 14-year-old’s shocking story, which was scheduled for Monday.
“In view of the personal interest demonstrated by the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State, we have decided to suspend the rally to give both state governments time to urgently bring Ese back,” the NGO said.
It further explained that the governor had shown concern that a rally might lead to a breach of the peace, “given the high level of tension currently in the state on account of the proposed rally”.
The NGO, however, said it would continue the fight to return Ese back to her parents and seek justice for her.
Dickson’s intervention follows the launch of “Free Ese” campaign.
Since August 12 when her parents made the shocking discovery, trips to Kano, the involvement of the police and efforts to get the Emir of Kano, Mallam Lamido Sanusi, at whose palace the girl is believed to be held to resolve the matter and ensure the return of the 14-year-old to her parents have failed.
Ese’s mother was told that her daughter had converted to Islam and was no longer her daughter, while her father was told that his daughter was an 18-year-old adult and not 14, hence she was capable of making decisions for herself.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Jummai Al-Hassan on Monday reacted to the alleged abduction.
The Minister, who spoke up on the issue posted on her Twitter handle @JummaiAlhassan that she got to know of the matter yesterday and has been looking into it ever since.
The tweet simply read: “The case of Ese Oruru as reported by Punch newspapers was brought to my attention yesterday and I have been looking into it since.”
Yinusa, a tricycle rider, was alleged to have eloped with the minor to Kano on August 12, 2015, from her mother’s shop in Opolo Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State and has since then refused to return her to her parents.
Nigerians have involved themselves in the demand for her release with a hash tag #Freeeseoruru currently trending on Twitter.
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