Tension is mounting high in Bayelsa state over the abduction and forced
marriage of 13 year-old Ese Rita Oruru by one Yinusa who resides in Kano.
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.
The parents of the victim, Mr. and Mrs. Oruru, who had made several visits
to Kano to secure the release of their daughter, have been unsuccesful as
Yinusa’s kinsmen insisted that Ese, who they now refer to as ‘Aisha’,
belongs to them as they are ready to pay the necessary bride price.
The Orurus reported the matter to the Police and the Department of State
Security (DSS) and their promise to bring home Ese has remained
unfulfilled forcing the parents to take the issue to youth and civil
society groups.
In a press conference addressed by Mr. Kizito Andah of the Child
Protection Network, he said civil society and youth groups in Bayelsa are
ready to stage a protest and press home the demand for the release of Ese
from the custody of her abductors.
Andah, who lamented that both the Nigeria Police and the DSS have been
unable to secure the release of Ese, warned against an ethno-religious
crisis which the abduction and forceful conversion into Islam could
trigger in Bayelsa state.
He said CPN was demanding that Nigerians prevail on all relevant
authorities to ensure that Ese is released and her abductors are punished
in line with the laws of the land.
“We strongly believe that the said Miss Ese Rita Oruru has not only has
been hypnotized but also recruited as a tool in the hand of an Islamic
fanatical group in Kano State. Miss Ese Rita Oruru is only 13-years-old
and cannot give informed consent to marriage and is still held hostage.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Oruru are petty traders who are putting all efforts
to meet the needs of their children.”
Securing the return of Miss Ese Rita Oruru would be not only make history
in our strong desire to continually protect our children, but also
reemphasize and stamp our indelible position against the acts of these
culprits. We, therefore, call for all to join our voices to prevail on the
Kano State Government, the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, to urgently
release Miss Ese Rita Oruru, and demand for the prosecution of her
abductors under the appropriate law and jurisdiction as it is of urgent
national security and public interest.”
The Sun