13-YEAR-OLD URHOBO GIRL ABDUCTED, CONVERTED AND FORCEFULLY MARRIED BY AN 'ABOKI' MAN - Crime

A Muslim man by the name Yunusa from Kano state, has been accused of
kidnapping and forcefully converting and marrying off 13 year old
Urhobo girl, Ese Rita Oruru 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.