‘FREE ESE’ CAMPAIGN: Dickson promises to work with Ganduje for Ese’s return

Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has promised to work with his Kano State counterpart, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, to ensure the return of 14-year-old Ese Oruru, who was abducted, taken to Kano, converted to Islam and married by one Yinusa.

A non-governmental organisation, Kindling Hope Across Nations Initiative, which has been working with Ese’s parents to secure her release and return home, said this in a statement.

The statement said the governor had during a meeting with KHAN Initiative officials on Sunday, expressed concern over the issue and appealed to the NGO to allow him intervene in the issue.

The KHAN Initiative said, consequently, it cancelled a rally, aimed at drawing attention to the 14-year-old’s shocking story, which was scheduled for Monday.

“In view of the personal interest demonstrated by the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State, we have decided to suspend the rally to give both state governments time to urgently bring Ese back,” the NGO said.

It explained that the governor had expressed concern that a rally might lead to a breach of the peace, “given the high level of tension currently in the state on account of the proposed rally”.

The NGO, however, said it would continue the fight to return Ese back to her parents and seeks justice for her.

Dickson’s intervention follows the launch of “Free Ese” campaign by PUNCH, which has drawn the attention of thousands of Nigerians to the sordid story and failure of top officials in Bayelsa and Kano states to do the right thing.

Stories about Ese’s plight and the travail of her parents have led to increased calls for her immediate release and the prosecution of those involved in her abduction.

KHAN, an NGO committed to improving the lives of people and creating a world where everyone is empowered to live above poverty, has worked with the Orurus since they reported the incident to the organisation.

The Executive Director, KHAN Initiative, Mr. Kizito Andah, had told Sunday PUNCH that after receiving the case, the organisation immediately swung into action by formally informing the Department of State Services.

He said several meetings were held in December 2015 with officers of the DSS, noting that the state security outfit made several promises to secure the release of the victim, but that up till date, Ese was still held hostage by the perpetrators.

Andah, who is also the Secretary, Child Protection Network, claimed that their coordinator also spoke with the Inspector-General of Police and the police boss gave his word that the girl would be returned to her parents. Yet, that had not been done.

Ese had been abducted in August 2015 by Yinusa, who was a longstanding customer of her mother, Mrs. Rose Oruru, a food vendor in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

Since August 12 when her parents made the shocking discovery, trips to Kano, the involvement of the police and efforts to get the Emir of Kano, Mallam Lamido Sanusi, at whose palace the girl is believed to be held to resolve the matter and ensure the return of the 14-year-old to her parents have failed.

While her mother was told that Ese had converted to Islam and, therefore, was no longer her daughter, her father was told that his daughter was an 18-year-old adult and not 14, hence she was capable of making decisions for herself.

‘FREE ESE’ CAMPAIGN: Dickson promises to work with Ganduje for Ese’s return