Following the release of 14-year-old Ese Oruru, who was allegedly kidnapped from Bayelsa and taken to Kano state, some sections of the media have reported that she may not have been abducted and that she is 17-years-old.

The reports further states that her captor, Yinusa, a.k.a Yellow is 18-years-old, and that the pair agreed to elope together.

Ese, who has been away from her family since August 12, 2015, was reported by Punch Newspapers (who championed her rescue) to have converted to Islam and forcefully married to Yinusa.

After almost 7 months of being with Yinusa, Ese Oruru was on Monday released to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 1, Kano, Shuaibu Gambo, by the Kano Emirate Council.

The Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase confirmed her release, stating that ‘she is safe with us. She will be reunited with her parents.’

Speaking on behalf of the IGP, police spokesperson, Olabisi Kolawole, also said Ese would be taken to Abuja on Tuesday to reunite with her parents.

“Ese has been released and as I speak with you, she is with the AIG, Zone 1, Kano. She will be brought to Abuja tomorrow (Tuesday) along with her parents. The AIG Zone 1 has taken over the matter. The police swung into action and they are investigating at the moment. Investigation is still ongoing.”

“All those involved in the saga would be dealt with according to the law. Any person indicted in the incident will be made to face the law.”

In spite of the contradictory reports and arguments that Ese is 17, and may have willingly eloped with Yunusa, her younger brother Onome Oruru, has maintained that his sister is 14.

“I am 16 years old. I was born on Nov 23, 1999. That is the date I celebrate my birthday every year. I just graduated from secondary school last year here in Bayelsa State, at the age of 16. All my peers are in my age bracket. I am certain of my age because I am old enough to know. Ese and I attend the same school. She was in JSS3 last year when she was taken away.”

Onome further stresssed that it’s impossible for his younger sister to be older than him.
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“It is funny that these people are saying all sorts of things about my sister and her age. Everybody can see it, it is clear. I can’t be 16 years old, and my younger sister will be older than me. How can she be 17 years old, when my immediate elder sister, will clock 19 years old on March 7 this year? We all have about two years’ age difference in between. Ese clocked 14 on February 22.”

Speaking about his sister’s alleged captor, he said: “Yinusa is one of these normal Hausa guys around. We usually call them aboki; they sell things in our area. He looked very innocent and went about his business without complaint. When I heard he was the one that abducted my younger sister, I was very shocked and surprised.”

“If you look at his face, he looks like someone who cannot hurt a fly, and he was sometimes playful. I didn’t believe he could do such a thing. Everybody in the compound knew him because he used to supply water before he became a keke Marwa (tricycle) rider.”

Onome also said he doesn’t believe that his sister, Ese willingly converted to Islam and doesn’t want to return to their home, in Bayelsa.

“I do not believe them at all. Even if she said that as they claim, then it means they are the ones manipulating her to say such things, because Ese that I know cannot say such a thing. Ese is that kind of person that does not even want to become a Muslim at all; she would not even dream of it. In school, she was one of the strongest Scripture Union members; I know her very well. Then, she also used to tell me to come and join the SU. She did evangelism during break time most times.”

“Ese is still a small girl and cannot decide many things for herself. Ese cannot even wash clothes very well. She likes singing and she was a chorister in the church. She likes preaching and praying. She used to preach to me and my friends. All those things they are saying she said are not true; they are manipulations by those people. I am sad about all of this. I just want my sister back home.”

Speaking in the same vein, Ese’s mother, Rose, said her daughter had been manipulated by her abductor, Yinusa and his collaborators, who have now compelled her, to lie about her age.

“We do not have an official birth certificate because Ese was born in a nursing home on February 22, 2002, in Opolo, Bayelsa State. We did not have money to go to a regular hospital. Ese’s immediate elder sibling, Onome, a boy, was born in November 23, 1999. I always write the date of birth of all my children down,” she told our correspondent on the telephone.”

“We have been hearing different rumours, but I won’t believe any of them until I see my daughter. When we went to Kano, the Emir said something about her being released to us, so why should I believe them this time? But I will be happy to see my daughter back home with me and safe.”