Nigerians on Monday had cause to celebrate the final release of Ese Oruru, the 14-year old girl abducted from Bayelsa state by one Yinusa to Kano for conversion to Islam and marriage. Many had thought the incident could lead to an tribal war in the country.
Huhuonline.com can reveal that Ese was released on the orders of the Emir Sanusi Mohammed of Kano even though the Nigeria Police spent Monday evening claiming the glory for her rescue.
The Emir while giving the order, asked the state sharia commission to liaise with the Assistant Inspector General of Police, zone 1 to commence the process of returning girl back to her family.
The emir also distanced himself and the Kano Emirate Council from the incident adding: “I have ordered the sharia commission to liaise with the office of Deputy Inspector General of the police zone to repatriate and reconcile the teenager with her family immediately.”
It was learnt that, to make the Nigeria Police Force look effective, the police released the information of Ese’s release unofficially claiming she had been rescued from her abductor and was now in their custody.
But a source who had followed the development since it became public knowledge last Sunday, said the police only waited to see her release by the Kano emir who handed her immediately to the police authority.
“She was not rescued by the police as the Inspector-General, Solomon Arase, wants us to believe. She was only handed over to the police by Emir Sanusi who is also planning to ensure that all those who took part in the alleged abduction are brought to book.
“Don’t forget that the same Arase shamefully told a reporter that he was only waiting on the emir to help bring back Ese and that Ese’s freedom was dependent on the emir. So how did he suddenly rescue the girl?
“Arase must stop taking the glory. Okay, since the police claim they rescued the girl, they should also be bold to tell us how many people, including the main culprit, were arrested over the crime.
Shortly before her release, former Minister of Education and rights campaigner, Oby Ezekwesili, who had kept tab on the development and added to the pressure for Ese’s release, had announced that the Emir of Kano was meeting with Ese and had promised to ensure she was released.
Ese was 13 years old when she was allegedly abducted by Yinusa in Opolo, Yenagoa local government area of Bayelsa State, by Yinusa in August, 2015. Yinusa, a tricycle rider, sold his tricycle before taking Ese to Kano where he converted her to Islam and married her in connivance with some others in his village in Kano.
Ese’s parents raised the alarm after it dawned on them that they could not have their daughter back after several efforts and travelling to Kano where they had made their case known.
Victoria, Ese’s mother had narrated the how all she did in Kano to get Ese back proved abortive and how she was told her daughter had converted to Islam and was now known as Aisha. She said she was also told she could not touch her daughter.
She said she reported at a police station in Kano and later instituted a case with the Bayelsa command of the Nigeria Police Force. Yet, all the efforts did not help.
Emir Sanusi was said to have been embarrassed with especially the way he was roped into the issue after he had ordered that the girl be released to the family since last year.
It was learnt that the emir had thought that his order had been carried out until when the story was reported at the weekend.
The emirate was said to be more peeved with the level of insults that were poured on the emir in spite of the fact that he had overruled the Sharia legal system and ordered that the girl be released.
Many Nigerians, civil society groups and even the Minister of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Aisha Jummai Al-hassan, had condemned the incident and called for the prosecution of all involved in the act.
Al-hassan, earlier before Ese’s release, said: “our laws are very clear on the case. Ese Oruru is 14 and as such cannot consent to marriage. Any such union she’s in is illegal.
“I have been in touch with the police authorities in Kano over Ese’s immediate release to her parents and we are making progress.
“I can assure you that I will use all my powers and influence as a Minister and woman to secure the release and return of Ese Oruru.
“Ese is still a child under our laws, and her right to freedom of movement is subject to parental control. She must be returned.
“Child Rights Act says no person under 18 is capable of contracting a valid marriage, and a marriage so contracted is null and void.
“The Act also clearly states that anyone who marries a child is liable to a fine of N500,000 or 5 years imprisonment or both.
“No culture, religion or personal conviction supersedes the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Ese Oruru must return home.
“My ministry is on this case and we will ensure full prosecution of anyone who is found to have contravened the law.
“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.”
