Senator Ben Murray-Bruce has weighed in on the matter of the abduction of a 13-year-old girl from her home in Bayelsa by a man who took her to Kano, converted her to Islam and married her.
Bruce, who is a Senator from Bayelsa calls on the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase to effect the release of Ese to her parents.
The Trent was the first newspaper in Nigeria to publish the story of Miss Ese Rita Oruru abduction on Sunday, February 21, 2016. Since then the matter of her abduction and continued kidnapping has gone viral and become a national issue.
A thirteen year-old, Ese, was abducted from Bayelsa State by a man named one Mr. Yinusa. Taken to Kano, forced to convert to Islam, and become his wife in August 2015. Her poor parents traced her location to the palace of the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi where her abductor allegedly kept her in a forced child marriage.
Below is the statement issued by Senator Bruce on his Facebook page:
I have been on an international flight without Internet and just landed at MMA only to be briefed on the abduction of Ese #FreeEse
After being briefed I have consulted to establish the facts of the matter. Having done so, I make the following statement #FreeEse
IGP Arase, Ese is a minor and cant consent to marry. The CONSTITUTION is clear. Your duty is to ensure her release to her parents #FreeEse
The CONSTITUTION of Nigeria respects no person. To pick & choose on whom it should apply is UNCONSTITUTIONAL. Use your powers to #FreeEse
Your statement that Ese’s release is “dependent” on persons is sad. Her release is GUARANTEED by the CONSTITUTION. Ensure you #FreeEse
If you refuse to enforce the Nigerian CONSTITUTION this matter will be escalated to The United Nations Commission on Human Rights #FreeEse
The IGP is in a pole position to show that there are no sacred cows in Nigeria and everyone is equal before the law #FreeEse
