There is excitement in Bayelsa State over the imminent return of Ese Oruru, the 14-year-old girl who was abducted, taken to Kano, converted to Islam and forced into marriage by a youngster simply known as Yinusa, alias Yellow.
The news of her release sent her parents’ neighbours and siblings into jubilation. Some youths burst into songs and headed for the Orurus’ home, thinking the girl had returned home.
On getting to the home, which is in the congested creek area of Opolo, Yenagoa, the state capital, the youths were informed by Ese’s father that her daughter was yet to return.
The youths were disappointed.
Charles Oruru said his wife departed for Abuja in the company of some policemen to bring back her daughter.
He said the police in Yenagoa called them at 6.a.m. to inform them that Ese had been released and requested that they should accompany them to Abuja to bring her home.
He said since his wife left for Abuja, many people and some groups had besieged his home in solidarity with his family.
“My joy will not be complete until I see my daughter. I am very happy that she has been released. I have been calling my wife on the telephone to get the update but her phone is switched off”, he said.
Ese’s mother, Rose, confirmed to our correspondent that she was on her way to Abuja.
Oruru said the last seven months had been difficult for his family, adding that they got money from family members and friends to fund their trips to Kano for Ese’s freedom.
He said though he was jobless, he was happy that his daughter was alive and expected to come back home.
“I am jobless for now, but I am very happy that my daughter is alive and coming back home,” he said.
Ese siblings, especially Faith, her 18-year-old sister, were excited at her release.
The father said: “I am very joyful that she has been released. I am waiting patiently to see her. I have missed her. I also miss her dancing. She is fond of dancing whenever she hears the sound of music.”
Oruru said his daughter had not yet mastered the act of bathing herself well much less thinking of loving someone.
He said if his daughter returned, he would first take her to church for thanksgiving and later to a hospital for a proper medical check.
He said: “I don’t think a 13-year old girl who is just in her early puberty stage will do something like that. A girl that does not know how to bathe well? I don’t believe she could be in love.
“I don’t think I will allow her to assist her mother in the restaurant again because we don’t know the plans of the people that abducted her.
“When she comes back I will first task her to church then she will continue with her secondary school education. I will also take her to a hospital where she will be checked properly.
“Ese is my youngest daughter. I like her so much because she is very brave girl and very hardworking. She is young but still has a heart of her own; that has been her way of life
“Nobody deprives her of anything; of her freedom and nobody has offended her, so running away from home is not ordinary.
“I know my children; they don’t go out without our knowledge or obtaining permission from us. Moreover she didn’t go with any of her things; all her clothes are still intact”.
Expressing his joy, Onome, 16, Ese’s immediate elder brother, said they were planning a reception for their sister.
“We are going to sing and dance because we are happy and relieved. We will start preparing for the reception immediately we get information that our mother is on her way back with our sister,” he said.
When The Nation visited Ese’s mother’s canteen where she was abducted, it was under lock and key.
The makeshift canteen on a rough and waterlogged road in the creek area of Opolo was shut down because of the incident.
The police said in Abuja last night that Ese will be handed over to her mother today.
The ceremony, billed for yesterday after her arrival from Kano, was shifted because her mother did not arrive in Abuja on time.
The vehicle she and those travelling with her from Yenagoa used was faulty, the police told a horde of reporters waiting at the Police headquarters in Abuja. They had waited for hours.
Force spokesperson Olabisi Kolawale, an assistant commissioner, said: ‘My initial plan was to invite you when they are here but everybody came without proper invitation; so you won’t blame me for this.
”The truth is that the parents are still on their way and instead of us waiting, let’s leave it till tomorrow (today) morning.”
When asked of the exact location of the parents, she said: “They are in Abaaji right now. The time for the event will be sent to you tomorrow so that you don’t come and wait here again.”
Giving the reason for the delay, Kolawole said: “Their vehicle developed some fault and that is why they didn’t arrive at the expected time.
On Ese’s whereabouts, she simply said: “She is fine.”
