The governor further expressed regret over the abduction of the 14-year-old girl in Yenagoa and taken to Kano, Kano State, for a forceful marriage and conversion into Islam, a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said, Tuesday.
He also called on parents and guardians “to be extremely vigilant, especially in the monitoring of the activities of their children, with a view to ensuring that they do not fall victim to the antics of mischief makers.”
Dickson, who condemned the entire action, however, expressed satisfaction with the various individuals, the media, non-governmental and civil society groups for bringing the matter to national and international focus.
“We are pledging the government’s preparedness to support every effort at not only re-uniting Ese Oruru with her family back in Yenagoa, but also ensure her proper rehabilitation and reintegration into the society to resume her normal life,” the governor stated.
While commending the Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, for the role played in ensuring the release of the victim, Dickson also applauded security agencies for the swiftness and professionalism with which the matter was handled.
He thanked the Emir of Kano, Mallam Muhammadu Sanusi II, for ensuring the safety of Ese and eventual handing over to the Police in Kano.
“The government and people of Bayelsa State will remain eternally grateful to all those, who contributed in one way or the other in giving the issue the desired attention,” Dickson said.
Ese was abducted in August last year by Yinusa, aka Yellow, a long standing customer of her mother, Rose Oruru and taken to Kano where she was forced into marriage and converted to Islam.
Meanwhile, members of the House of Representatives, Tuesday demanded the immediate prosecution of the abductors of Ese Oruru and her subsequent forcible marriage and conversion to Islam.
The lawmakers asked the Federal Government to bring the “full weight of the law” on the perpetrators of the act to serve as a deterrent to others who might be planning such acts in the future.
Ese, who hails from Delta State, was abducted from Yenagoa, Bayelsa State on August 12, 2015.
Reacting, Tuesday in Abuja, lawmakers said releasing her was not a compensation for the fact that a crime had been committed and her fundamental human rights already violated.
House Minority Leader, Mr. Leo Ogor, said the government must respond to the issue “more forcefully” by ensuring that Yinusa and his accomplices were adequately punished.
Ogor spoke more, “Whether the girl has been released or not released at the moment is not the issue because those people that are involved in the criminality must be brought to book; they must definitely be made to face the wrath of the law.
“We should go further to find out who these culprits are, how were they able to perpetrate such a crime, who are their supporters, who are the people behind this dastardly, attitude and make sure they face the wrath of the law.
“It is just because there were some people crying for these people that was why this crime was exposed. I believe that this attitude is on-going and I think this is not the first of it.
“The public also must speak out at this particular time so that some of these issues can easily be addressed.”
Ese hails from Ugheli-North/Ugheli-South Federal Constituency in Delta State. Her Rep, Mr. Solomon Awhinahwi, also condemned the abduction and demanded the prosecution of the culprits.
“We have the laws to take care of this type of crime. We should enforce them. People should desist from acting as if we don’t have these laws,” he stated.
Awhinahwi disclosed how he resorted to using a “political approach” to try to secure the release of Ese soon after the incident was reported to him.
“I went to meet by colleague from Kano State and he actually travelled to Kano. We were working on it before the matter blew open in the public through the efforts of some activists and non-governmental organisations,” he added.
