#FreeEse: Social media launches campaign to free abducted 14-year-old child bride

The pathetic story of how 14-year-old Ese Oruru was allegedly abducted in August 2015, has continued to elicit outrage among Nigerians on social media. She was reportedly taken from Opolo, Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, by one Yunusa, who hails from Kano.

     Ese was 13 as at the time of her alleged abduction. She was taken to Kano by Yunusa, where he converted her to Islam and married her. Ese’s parents had since last August made trips to Kano, where they unraveled the plight of their daughter.

The parents said they have involved the police but efforts to get the Emir of Kano Mallam Lamido Sanusi, at whose palace the girl is believed to be held, to resolve the matter and ensure the return of the 14-year-old to them have proved futile.
Her mother Rose Oruru, a food vendor in Opolo, was told that Ese had converted to Islam and was therefore no longer her daughter. Her father was told that his daughter was an 18-year-old adult and not 14, hence she was capable of making decisions for herself.
     However, Nigerians yesterday took to the social media to launch a campaign #FreeEse, calling for the immediate release of the Urhobo-born teenager.