Fourteen-year-old Ese Oruru is now in the custody of the Federal Government, eight months after she was abducted from Bayelsa State by one Yinusa.
Yinusa a longstanding customer of Ese’s mother, Mrs. Rose Oruru, had taken the girl to Kano, had her converted to Islam and forcefully married her.
Ese’s release followed the launch on Sunday of the “Free Ese” Campaign by PUNCH, which was embraced by Nigerians from across the country and beyond.
The success of the campaign and Ese’s release is down to the efforts by Nigerians who overcame the shock and anger the sordid story caused, demanded her release and spurred the relevant authorities into action.
The release of the teen from her captor’s grip just a day after the campaign highlighted the determination of Nigerians who got to know about the shocking incident only on Sunday.
However, details of the FG’s plan to return the teen home and for the prosecution of those that violated the country’s laws are still being expected.
Earlier today, the Minister of Women Affairs, Jummai Alhassan, who said she only became aware of the story after seeing the reports by Sunday PUNCH, also demanded Ese’s release. In a series of tweets today morning, Alhassan had promised to do all within her power to ensure that the girl is reunited with her parents.
She added late in the afternoon, “I assure you all that Ese Oruru will be released and reunited with her parents without further delay. All hands are on deck for this. #FreeEse” Also, a former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, said late on Sunday that the Emir of Kano had promised to help solve the problem. She disclosed this afternoon that the Emir was holding a meeting in Emirate Council over the issue.
On Sunday, in response to the outrage, Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, promised to work with his Kano State counterpart, Abdullahi Ganduje, to secure Ese’s release.
A non-governmental organisation, KHAN Initiative, which had worked closely with Ese’s parents since the abduction and which helped draw attention to the story, had said Dickson made the promise during a meeting with its officials.
Due to the governor’s promise and his fear that a rally lead to the breach of the fragile peace in the state, the NGO cancelled a rally that was scheduled to hold this morning.
Senator Ben Murray-Bruce also joined the campaign for Ese’s release today.
The Senator, who said he only heard about the incident today, called on the Inspector-General of Police to immediately free the girl and stop giving excuses.
The Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, who along with some others were widely criticised for the failure to free the 14-year-old, had told the PUNCH on Sunday that Ese’s release had been delayed by the Emir of Kano’s Hajj trip.
Arase, who spoke after the launch of the “Free Ese” Campaign by PUNCH, said, “I have just spoken with the SundayPUNCH’s Editor. I explained to her about the delay. The police command in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, actually followed up the matter right from Kano State.
“The Emir decided that he was going to mediate. But, because of his trip to Mecca with the President; that was what caused the delay. But now that he is back, we are going to sort it out as quickly as possible.”
But Murray-Bruce rejected the excuse, warning the IGP that if he failed to do his constitutional duty, the matter would be escalated to the United Nations Human Rights Commission.
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