Voice Of The People: Emir Sanusi Orders Release Of Girl Forced Into Marriage (Letter)

Ex-Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, contacted the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, over the abduction and forced marriage of a 13-year-old, named Ese Oruru. The Emir  showed a copy of a letter he had penned to the  Assistant Inspector General of Police on social media, ordering the release of the young girl to her parents.  Before then, there had been reports that Sanusi had refused to order the release of the girl.

Below are tweets that Oby Ezekwesili made on the issue.

Ade Adesomoju, Afeez Hanafi and Olaleye Aluko

Nigerians have expressed outrage over the alleged abduction of 14-year-old Ese Oruru by one Yinusa, aka Yellow, who also forced her into marriage.

Nigerians, who read the story of the helpless minor on The PUNCH’s website on Sunday, took a swipe at the inactions of the authorities, saying the girl was abandoned to wallow in captivity.

Yinusa, a tricycle driver, took away the minor to Kano on August 12, 2015, from her mother’s shop in Opolo Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State. The mother, Mrs. Rose Oruru, had gone out on the day leaving Ese and her siblings in the shop. Yinusa seized the girl in her absence. Rose’s attempts to seek the release of the girl at the Emir of Kano’s (Sanusi Lamido’s) palace, where she was reportedly kept met a stiff resistance.

An online reader, who identified himself only as Seagols, wrote, “I feel so ashamed of the Bayelsa State Police Command for saying it’s not abduction, but elopement of a 13-year-old? Shame on the Bayelsa State Government, which can’t stand for the rights of its citizen. Shame on the Emir of Kano, who allowed such injustice. Finally, how could a guy who sold his keke in Bayelsa be this powerful? Just that the police are already biased. More will unfold if only the police were to do their job.”