The 14-year old Ese Oruru, who was abducted by one Yinusa, who took her to Kano, converted her to Islam and married her, would be united with her family after she is handed over to her mother on Wednesday.
The anguished mother of Ese is currently in Abuja to receive her daughter who had been held hostage by Yinusa and a host of others since August last year. She got to Abuja late Tuesday and the police authority said the handing over could not be officially carried out because of the late arrival of her mother.
Her father is with other family members waiting anxiously to receive her.
The Emir of Kano, Mohammed Sanusi and the Emirate Council have since Monday done all within their power to absolve the monarch of any alleged role in the embarrassing situation.
However, Nigerians have continued to slam the emir arguing that he could have followed up with the order he claimed he handed down for Ese’s release since last year.
NIGERIANS TO POLICE: ARREST ABDUCTOS, ACCOMPLICES
Nigerians on Tuesday called on the Nigeria Police Force to redeem its soiled image as it concerns the abduction of Ese Oruru from her parents in Bayelsa to Kano where she was converted to Islam and married by one Yinusa.
Ese, then 13, was abducted in August 2015 and all efforts by her parents proved abortive until it became a national issue that has now caused the country some embarrassments.
The victim’s parents also confessed that the police would have messed the case if not for journalists and civil society groups which took up the issue leading to her eventual release by the Emir of Kano, Mohammed Sanusi, who was also castigated by some Nigerians for not following up with his alleged order that the girl should be released since last year.
Inibehe Effiong, a rights activist and lawyer, called the issue nonsense and added: “people should stop fanning the embers of centrifugal and religious acrimony. Someone with his senses decided to abduct a 13-year old girl from Bayelsa State to Kano State, converted her to Islam, married her off and changed her name to Aisha.
“Yinusa lived in Bayelsa State for years. He made a living there without molestation. He was even a regular customer of Ese’s mother. Suddenly, he lured the innocent girl and absconded with her without her parents consent.
“Imagine if a certain Christopher from Bayelsa State but living in Kano State had abducted a 13 year old Muslim girl (Halima) from Kano and took her to Bayelsa State, converted her to Christianity, married her off and changed her name to Miracle. Imagine if Halima’s parents had gone to Bayelsa to secure her release but met resistance.
“What do you think would have been the reaction of people in Kano State? Maybe by now, several lives, houses and properties worth billions of naira would be been lost. We would probably have seen an unprecedented religious crisis in the country.
“I am not and will never be a tribal bigot or a religious fanatic. But we cannot continue to swim in the ocean of hypocrisy. Let us not allow few disgruntled elements to take us backward. We need to build this country on the principles of justice, truth and equality.
“It is pleasing that majority of Muslims have spoken out against Yinusa’s infamous and provocative action. But beyond condemnation, we need to address the root causes of such deep seated arrogance that propels people like Yinusa to act in such offensive way. This should never happen again.”
CULPRITS MUST BE ARRESTED, SAYS MUSLIM GROUP
The Muslim Rights Concern also demanded that Yinusa and all those who supported him in the act must be arrested and brought to book.
In a statement by its Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, the group commended Emir Mohammed Sanusi for helping with the release of Ese.
“The police have also acted very professionally. Nonetheless, we demand that Yinusa, the ‘boy friend’ with whom the girl eloped should arrested and prosecuted.
“Our position is based on the fact that the girl is a minor. Attempting to marry off the girl without her parent’s permission is not only a breach of common law but also a violation of the Shariah provision on the need for the parents’ approval before nikah (Islamic marriage) can be deemed valid (La nikah bila waliyyin).
“Of particular significance in this regard is the express command in the Glorious Qur’an that women should be married with the permission of their parents. The Qur’an says inter alia, ‘…And marry them (i.e. women) with the permission of their parents(Qur’an 4:25)’.”
The statement said Yinusa only took the girl for marriage and not for ransom.
“The boyfriend cannot go scot free if it is established that he had had canal knowledge of the girl. In fact, his case is judiciable both before the Kano Shariah court and the Yenagoa court although the latter has the stronger jurisdiction. The girl should be properly examined in the hospital before being taken to Yenagoa.
“The fact that Yunusa is a Muslim cannot becloud our sense of justice. The Qur’an commands Muslims to ‘…Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses of Allah, even if the case is against yourselves, or your parents, or your family, and whether it is against a rich or poor man…’ (Qur’an 4:135).”
The group agreed that Yinusa’s act was criminal enough.
REPS DEMANDS PROSECUTION OF ABDUCTORS
The House of Representatives also on Tuesday, demanded that Yinusa be immediately prosecuted urging the Federal Government to bring the full weight of the law on those who carried out such acts to discourage others from going into it.
They also said releasing Ese was not enough but that Yinusa must be punished.
Minority Leader of the House, Leo Ogor, said: “whether the girl has been released or not released at the moment is not the issue because those people that are involved in the criminality must be brought to book; they must definitely be made to face the wrath of the law.
“We should go further to find out who these culprits are, how were they able to perpetrate such a crime, who are their supporters, who are the people behind this dastardly, attitude and make sure they face the wrath of the law.
“It is just because there were some people crying for these people that was why this crime was exposed. I believe that this attitude is on-going and I think this is not the first of it.
“The public also must speak out at this particular time so that some of these issues can easily be addressed.”
In his contribution, Hon. Solomon Awhinahwi, said: “we have the laws to take care of this type of crime. We should enforce them. People should desist from acting as if we don’t have these laws.
“We were working on it before the matter blew open in the public through the efforts of some activists and non-governmental organisations.”
