From Molly Kilete, Abuja and Femi Folaranmi,Yenagoa
POLICE, Headquarters yesterday reunited abducted 14-year-old Ese Oruru, with her mother, Rose.
At a media briefing to hand over the girl to her biologi­cal mother held at police headquarters in Abuja, Public Relations Officer, Bisi Kolawole, said the girl was not paraded before newsmen because of “the crucial need to respect the privacy and other protective rights of the girl-child and her family at the moment.
“This is the minimum legal and international require­ment in cases of this nature.”
Kolawole noted that Nigeria, as a civilised nation, would not compromise standards in this regard and said Ese, has undergone psychological and emotional support by officers of the Gender and Child unit of the police.
She also disclosed that a team from the police medical department has also provided medical services to the girl-child, to certify her medical status and emotional status before reuniting her with her mother.
She assured that the abductor, Inuwa Bala and all those involved in the abduction saga, would be brought to book.
“This is the only way this nation can make a clear statement in unison that any individual who violates the sanctity of the rights of our children shall be dealt with in accordance with extant laws of our country.”
The police spokesperson said apart from prosecution of all those who took part in the illegal act, Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase has also ordered an in-house administrative inquiry to “review the professional conducts of officers responsible for the initial investiga­tion of this case.”
She added that, “any officer indicted of professional dereliction will be firmly dealt with accordingly.”
The police spokesperson thanked the media for what she described as their ‘steadfastness’, in highlighting the case and at the same time, supporting the police in man­aging the crisis.
Meanwhile, Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has demanded clinical evaluation for Eze and has also sent a protest letter to the National Assembly and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) against the police over the alleged shoddy handling of Ese’s abduction.
CLO, in the letter signed by the state Chairman, Chief Nengi James, the Legal Secretary, O. J. Macbere and the mother of victim, Mrs. Rose Oruru, stated that the victim and her family are entitled to exemplary damages, proper clinical evaluation and prosecution of those behind the weeks of traumatisation experienced during her abduc­tion.
According to the letter made available to newsmen yesterday in Yenagoa, the CLO stated that though Ese has been released, there is need for proper clinical evaluation of the victim.
… Jubliation as girl arrives Bayelsa
From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
THERE was jubilation yesterday night when 14-year-old Ese Oruru, who was abducted to Kano by Inuwa Bala returned to her family’s house in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The mother, Mrs Rose Oruru and Ese her daughter flew from Abuja to Port Harcourt where a police vehicle took them to Yenagoa.
In Yenagoa, their first port of call was the police offi­cers mess where they were debriefed. Mrs Oruru and Ese were billed to go to the Government House but the visit was shifted till today.
It was mixed reactions at their Opolo residence when Mrs Oruru and Ese arrived. The whole neighbourhood trooped out to catch a glimpse of Ese before she was tak­en into their house. The father, Mr Charles Oruru said he was happy to be reunited with his daughter after months of separation.
“Thank God, she is back in Yenagoa; I happy to be re­united with her. Glory be to God”