The Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, says the release of the 14-year-old girl, Ese Oruru, abducted from Yenagoa, Bayelsa State to Kano and said to be in the palace of the Emir of Kano, was dependent on the intervention of the emir, Punch reports.
Arase said this in an interview published on Sunday, February 28, 2016 adding that the delay in Ese’s release was a result of the emir’s trip to Mecca, Saudi Arabia for lesser Hajj.
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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.
Ese’s parents had reported her abduction to the Ekeki Police Station, Yenagoa, and to the Kwani Police Station, Kano, and efforts to secure her release through Emir of Kano were rebuffed.
Solomon Arase said the police authorities did not abandon the matter as being insinuated, adding that the release of the girl would be “sorted out as quickly as possible.”
He said, “I have just spoken with the Sunday PUNCH’s editor. I explained to her about the delay. The police command in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, actually followed up the matter right from Kano State.
“The emir decided that he was going to mediate. But, because of his trip to Mecca with the president. That was what caused the delay. But now that he is back, we are going to sort it out as quickly as possible.”
When Arase was asked how soon Nigerians should expect the release of Ese, the nation’s police boss said that the buck stops at the stool of the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and he could not give a timeline.
“Well, that is dependent on the intervention of the Emir. We have agreed to resolve the matter. I cannot give a timeline.”
The reporter asked again. “Sir, you mean the release is dependent on the emir, and not the police?”
Arase said, “I have not said anything like that. Have I? I have told you I have discussed these things with the editor. You can ask her. You are starting a different line of interview.
“But what I am telling you is that we did not abandon the matter as being insinuated. We have been following it up. The issue will be resolved.”
