A Hausa Muslim man identified as Yunusa from Kano state, has been accused of kidnapping and forcefully converting and marrying off 13 year old Urhobo girl, Ese Rita Orur pictured above.
According to The Sun, Yinusa who resides in Opolo, Yenagoa, had abducted Ese on August 12th 2015 and eloped with her to Kano and has refused to allow her return home.
Rita’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Oruru, had made several visits to Kano to secure the release of their daughter but have been unsuccessful as Yinusa’s kinsmen insisted that Ese, who they now refer to as ‘Aisha’, belongs to them and that they are ready to pay the necessary bride price.
The Orurus reported the matter to the Police and the Department of State Security (DSS) and their promise to bring home Ese has remained unfulfilled forcing the parents to take the issue to youth and civil society groups.
At a press conference addressed by Kizito Andah of the Child Protection Network today February 18th, the civil society and youth groups in Bayelsa say they are ready to stage a protest and press home the demand for the release of Ese from the custody of her abductors.
That also lamented the inability of both the Nigeria Police and the DSS to secure the release of Ese. They warned against an ethno-religious crisis which the abduction and forceful conversion into Islam could trigger in Bayelsa state. Andah who addresed the press, said CPN was demanding that Nigerians prevail on all relevant authorities to ensure that Ese is released and her abductors are punished in line with the laws of the land.