13-yr-old Christian girl kidnapped by Muslim man, forcefully converts her to Islam, marries her

The kidnap of a 13-year-old Christian girl,

According to the Daily Sun, Oruru, an Urhobo girl from Delta State, and lived with her parents in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa, was abducted by Yiunsa who resided in Opolo, also in Yenagoa on August 12, 2015, and eloped with her to Kano and has refused to allow her return home.

The efforts of the parents of the girl, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Oruru, who said they had made several visits to Kano to secure the release of their daughter, have been unsuccessful as Yinusa’s kinsmen insisted that Ese, who they now refer to as ‘Aisha’, belongs to them as they are ready to pay the necessary bride price.

The Orurus allegedly reported the matter to the police and the Department of State Security (DSS), and their promise to bring the victim has remained unfulfilled, forcing the parents to take the issue to youth and civil society groups.

In a press conference addressed by Kizito Andah of the Child Protection Network, he said civil society and youth groups in Bayelsa are ready to stage a protest and press home the demand for the release of Ese from the custody of her abductors.

The abducted girl, Ese Rita Oruru

Photo Credit: Sun

Andah, who lamented that both the Nigeria Police and the DSS have been unable to secure the release of th abducted girl, warned against an ethno-religious crisis which the abduction and forceful conversion into Islam could trigger in Bayelsa state.

“We strongly believe that the said Miss Ese Rita Oruru has not only has been hypnotized but also recruited as a tool in the hand of an Islamic fanatical group in Kano State.

Miss Ese Rita Oruru is only 13-years-old and cannot give informed consent to marriage and is still held hostage. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Oruru are petty traders who are putting all efforts to meet the needs of their children.

Securing the return of Miss Ese Rita Oruru would not only make history in our strong desire to continually protect our children, but also reemphasize and stamp our indelible position against the acts of these culprits.

We, therefore, call for all to join our voices to prevail on the Kano State Government, the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, to urgently release Miss Ese Rita Oruru, and demand for the prosecution of her abductors under the appropriate law and jurisdiction as it is of urgent national security and public interest.”