Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Henry Seriake Dickson, has called for a<\/p>\n
comprehensive investigation into the abduction and subsequent prosecution
\nof the culprits of 14 year old Ese Oruru, who was abducted and forced into
\nIslamic marriage in Kano since August last year.<\/p>\n
While describing the incident as unfortunate. Dickson said the state
\ngovernment has directed the Ministry of Justice to collaborate effectively
\nwith the Nigeria Police, towards ensuring that Ese\u2019s abduction was
\nprosecuted to a logical conclusion.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0 also expressed optimism that the investigation would be extended far
\nand wide with a view to bring the perpetrators to book.<\/p>\n
The Governor, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary,
\nDaniel Iworiso-Markson, tabled the demand on Thursday evening during an
\ninterview with journalists in Yenagoa, shortly after receiving Ese and her
\nparents in Government House, Yenagoa.<\/p>\n
Dickson, who described Ese as a minor, wondered why it took so long to
\nsecure her release, adding that, there were questions begging for answers,
\n“as those who knew something about her abduction failed to say or do
\nsomething to ensure Ese\u2019s return to her parents.”<\/p>\n
The governor said, \u201cThis matter has to do with enforcement of the laws of
\nthis state. This matter is not religious; It is not a matter that has to
\nbe swept under the carpet, because of one tradition or the other. We as a
\ngovernment is seeing this matter as one of law enforcement; the rights of
\na young girl, innocent childhood, her right to proper development and her
\nright to grow up in the company of her parents and also practice for now
\nthe faith of her parents. A lot has happened.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to use this opportunity to assure all that, the Nigeria Police
\nForce is working hard and I have directed the Ministry of Justice to
\ncollaborate effectively with them to ensure that this matter is prosecuted
\nto a logical conclusion.<\/p>\n
\u201cI also trust and believe that, the Police investigations would also
\nextend far and wide, because there are questions begging for answers and
\nwe as a government, we want to know why adults, fathers and grandfathers,
\nwho saw a minor taken away from here down and into circumstances she found
\nherself in in far away Kano did not make it a priority of returning that
\nchild; that minor to the lawful and proper custody of her parents.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to know why it took this long; we like to know those who knew
\nwhat was going on, but did not say something we like to know those, who
\ncould have saved this situation much earlier, but did not.\u00a0 Like I said,
\nwe are looking at this issue not from the prism of culture, tradition or
\nreligion. From now on, this matter has to be looked at purely and simply
\nas a case of law enforcement and as a case of state responsibility and
\nprotection and safety of our children; in this case, a minor. I have had
\npreliminary briefings by the Police Commissioner and his team.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dickson, however, stressed that, the issue of Ese\u2019s abduction should not
\nbe treated from the viewpoint of culture, tradition or religion, but
\nrather as a case of an infringement on Ese\u2019s fundamental human rights and
\nlaw enforcement.<\/p>\n
The Governor, who said he has received preliminary briefings from the
\nPolice Commissioner, directed that a team of medical personnel and
\ncounsellors be set up to liaise with Ese and her parents, in order to
\noffer support and expressed the government\u2019s preparedness to take
\nappropriate steps to reintegrate her to the society.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have directed that a team be set up, made up of medical practitioners,
\ncounsellors, who would liaise and work with Ese and her parents to offer
\nsupport we are prepared to support and stand by Ese, not just now, but
\nmost importantly in the days, months and years ahead.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like to thank all Nigerians for their legitimate concern in this
\nmatter, I appreciate the efforts of the parents and the Oruru family. I
\nthank my counterpart, the Kano State Governor, since this matter became
\npublic knowledge. I like to thank the media.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Henry Seriake Dickson, has called for a comprehensive investigation into the abduction and subsequent prosecution of the culprits of 14 year old Ese Oruru, who was…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":45529,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-47163","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n