The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II has ordered the immediate release of Ese Oruru, the 13-year-old kidnapped and forcefully married by a Kano citizen.
READ DETAILS AT #FreeEseNow: Kano man kidnaps, forcefully marries Bayelsa Girl
Nigerians React:
No, dear Emir, not enough to repatriate Ese back to her parents – Ugwuonye
We just learned that the Emir of Kano has directed that Ese be repatriated to her parents in Bayelsa. If so, that is a good step to take. However, it is coming too late and too short of justice.
The young girl was abducted, which is a crime. The person that committed that crime enjoys the accommodation and protection of the Emir of Kano.
Also, Ese is likely to have been raped multiple times by the same man, and forcibly converted to Islam. Forcibly converting a person to a faith is a degrading any inhuman treatment.
The least the Emir should do is to hand over the suspect and his accomplices to the police for prosecution for these high crimes.
Further, Ese and her family have been traumatized by this experience. The police, the government and the Emir failed them by their delay in rescuing her.
They should have rescued her months ago or at the earliest opportunity. At the very least, the government of Kano State and the stool of the Emir should pay damages and compensation to the family of Ese.
In addition, the government of Kano State, the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Emirate of Kano should set up a fund for the medical treatment of Ese and for her scholarship to university level.
Further, the Government of Nigeria and the Emirate should commit resources to promoting the protection of young girls from forced or underaged marriages throughout Nigeria.
While DPA is happy to see Ese returned to her parents, we demand more. There has to be more in order for justice to be seen to be done in this case.
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