By Samuel Oyadongha & Abdulsalam Muhammad
KANO — Following the directive by the Inspector General of Police that the roles of police detectives and other senior officers involved in the abduction drama of Ese be investigated, the Police Service Commission, PSC, the body tasked with responsibility of punishing officers for offences, has said it will sanction those found wanting in the matter.

“The Police Service Commission will not hesitate to sanction any Police Officer no matter how highly placed, who is found culpable in the abduction saga of Ese Oruru, who was said to have been abducted and forced into marriage in Kano,” a statement by the commission said.

Freed Ese Oruru at Police Headquarters, Abuja, yesterday.

Cotinuing, the statement signed by Ikechukwu Ani, Head of Public Relations said:  “The commission is waiting on the on-going investigation of some police officers on the directive of the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, and will ensure that any police officer found to have compromised himself either by omission or commission in the saga will be flushed out.”

Commending the IGP for his swift action in rescuing the teenager and ensuring that she was immediately reunited with her family, the PSC said it would work with the IGP to see that Nigerians, including the likes of Ese, were guaranteed their freedom to life.

Bayelsa govt sets up medical team for Ese

In Yenagoa,Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has revealed that a medical team, including psychologists and other experts, has been set up to support Ese Oruru on her road to recovery.

He made the revelation at a press conference held at the State House, after a closed door meeting with the Oruru family.

The governor also commended the media and civil society groups for their “appropriate interests” in Ese Oruru.

He said the state government would support Ese and the family in managing these trying times.

“I told the family that it could have been worse because their daughter may have disappeared forever,” he said.

He promised that adequate measures would be taken to ensure Ese’s welfare.

Dickson said:  “This matter has to do with enforcement of the laws of the State. Everything has to be done to protect the girl-child, like Ese’s case has shown.

“This is not a religious matter, but the right of a young girl to grow up with her parents.  I want to use the opportunity to assure all that the police and the directorate of public prosecution are working to ensure that this matter is pursued to its logical conclusions.

“There are questions begging for answers. How come adults who see a minor in far away Kano did not deem it right to return such minor to the lawful custody of her parents?

“We want to know who could have saved this situation but did not. We have set up a team that includes psychologists and others.  We are ready to support and stand by Ese, not just now but in the days, months and years ahead.”

Ese’s mum, Mrs. Rose Oruru, thanked the media and all Nigerians again for their support. Ese’s parents later left the state government house in a black saloon car.

We are relieved—Ese’s father

Mr. Charles Oruru, father of Ese, yesterday, at his Opolo residence on the return of his daughter said: “I am very happy the storm is over. I thank God for her safe return and all Nigerians who made it possible for her return. I thank the commissioner of police, the NGOs, the media and other civil society groups.It had been a traumatic experience for us. I was like a fish out of water. I was not sleeping well. It was a real war for our family.”

Rose and Charles Oruru, parents of Ese.

On the health condition of his daughter he said:  “Whatever you read in the newspaper is true.”

Ese and her parents had, in company of the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Peter Ogunyawo, and  the  Executive Director, Kindling Hope Across Nations Initiative, KHAN, Kizito Andah, and some other personalities arrived Government House, where the minor was again shielded from the media by security operatives.

Bayelsa police CP temporarily relocates to mess

The Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Peter Ogunwayo, has literarily relocated his office to the officers mess, some distance away from the state police command.

This may be in connection with the present quartering of the rescued 14-year-old Ese Oruru in the highly fortified edifice.

Ese, who arrived Yenagoa, Wednesday night, in the company of her mother, Mrs Rose Oruru and security escorts, was driven to the complex where she is currently undergoing counselling as part of her rehabilitation programme.

Though journalists were denied access to the complex, her father, Mr. Charles Oruru, who doned a red and white T shirt, was sighted walking into the restaurant section of the mess from an adjoining room.

The parents of Ese, who were at the mess to keep their daughter company could not be reached on phone as their lines were switched off.

Ese’s Opolo residence calm as classmates speak

Also, the Opolo residence of the Orurus, which was bieseged, yesterday, by an army of sympathisers, relations, friends and even Ese’s class mates, was relatively calm yesterday as she is yet to return home and reunite with her siblings.

But Patricia, Ese’s  eldest sister, expressed gratitude that her sister and mother returned safely home, saying “we cannot wait to receive her back home, having been away for so long.”

Ese’s school mates were not left out in the frenzy of her coming back to Yenagoa as, according to Hattarh Ozikime, “we are glad that she is back.”

Ozikime said on Wednesday night: “I have known Ese for four years now, we became close friends because I wanted to learn mathematics from her and she wanted to learn science subjects from me.

“I was able to meet her mother, her brother and sisters and even knew her house and mother’s shop.  I felt sad when we heard the news of her abduction. I could not believe it. It was really difficult because I didn’t think such a thing could happen to Ese. The fact that she is coming back is a big relief for me and all our friends. We are waiting to receive her back and become best friends as usual.”

Another of her class mates, Adama Miebimo, said:  “I met her the first day we started school, I happened to share the same seat with her and from then, we became friends. She is very intelligent; her favourite subject is mathematics, English and Integrated Science. She wanted to concentrate on science subjects and said she would like to become a nurse in future.”

Mrs Arise Douye, her teacher said:  “I thank God and also very thankful for all who followed this issue this far. “We are waiting to see her and we will embrace her and also do thanksgiving.  As for me, I will go to my church on a special thanksgiving for her returning back.”

Police admit negligence in handling Ese’s abduction

The Nigeria Police, yesterday, admitted poor handling of the abduction of Ese Oruru.

According to the force, the flawed handling of the issue was responsible for the delay in reuniting the teenager with her family.

Yunusa Yellow and Ese Oruru

The Zone 1 command of the force said it failed to follow up with the Sharia Commission in Kano, where the girl was taken in 2015.

Miss Oruru was taken without parental consent to Kano by Yunusa Dahiru, a regular customer of her mother, a food vendor.

The Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of the zonal command, Shuaibu Gambo, said leaving the state Sharia commission to handle the case after the Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, referred the matter to the command in August, complicated the situation.

“Indeed, the emir had sent a team of the Sharia commission members, Ese family and the abductor to our office in August, 2015.

“My predecessor, AIG Tambari Yabo, confirmed the receipt of the letter, as well as the team, from the monarch. But after meeting them, and realizing it was late, he directed that they come back the following morning.

“The following day, when the AIG didn’t see the Sharia commission officials and Ese family, he presumed that they had amicably settled the matter; because he was aware of the fact that Sharia commission had the ability to handle the case. But they had not done so.

“Given the benefit of hindsight, it is evident that there was a failure of communication as the delegation never returned with the girl for onward transportation to her family. And no further report of complaint whatsoever was received in respect of the case again.”