•Special prosecutor arrives Bayelsa

From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa

For 25 year-old Inuwa Daluru Bala (popularly called Yunusa), the day of reckoning for abducting 14 year-old Ese Rita Oruru to Kano State and forcefully converting her to Islam draws nigh.

The Nigeria Police headquarters has deployed a special prosecutor to Yenagoa, Bayelsa to commence Yunusa’s trial.

A special team of police officers had earlier brought Yunusa to Yenagoa after his arrest from Kano and kept him at the State Criminal Investigation Department where he has been grilled to unravel circumstances surrounding Ese’s abduction to Kano and issues bordering on her five months pregnancy.

Daily Sun gathered that the special prosecutor, who arrived Yenagoa over the weekend, has met separately with the suspect and the victim to obtain statements.

Sources said Ese’s statement, was obtained in the presence of her parents in English while Yinusa’s statement which was in Hausa, was obtained in police custody by a senior officer.

Police sources said documentation for the charges, which would include abduction, defilement and criminal conspiracy has been prepared against Yunusa.

“The Legal Department of Bayelsa Police Command has also contacted the state office of the Legal Aid Council to provide legal services and an interpreter for Yunusa. He may be arraigned this week,” the source said.

Meanwhile, the formal arraignment and trial might be conducted in secrecy to further shield Ese from the public glare because of her minority status.

According to investigations, the police, in line with the protective custody Ese has been placed under. since her arrival in Yenagoa, would not open Yunusa’s arraignment of to the public.

Already, a police officer is in trouble for allegedly recording and taking photographs of Ese during her visit to the Bayelsa State Government House.

The police has commenced a probe on how the officer was able to use his phone to record the visit,  in spite of the tight security to prevent video recording and snapshots of the girl.


…Her parents should be blamed – Bayelsa ACF leader

Chairman of Bayelsa State chapter of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has said Charles and Rose Oruru, parents of Ese Oruru, who was abducted by Inuwa to Kano, should share part of the blame for her present predicament.

Ibrahim said leaders of the Hausa community in Bayelsa are not happy with Inuwa’s conduct but, Ese’s parents should also be blamed.

Ibrahim, who noted that the Hausa community has been living peacefully in Bayelsa, pleaded that the people should not allow the Yunusa incident create problem between them.

He disclosed that Yunusa is not a stranger to the Orurus which made it possible for him to carry out his plans.

“What Yunusa did was very bad and condemnable. I married in from Bayelsa and my wife is from here. We have been living together peacefully for a very long time until this unfortunate incident. We should not allow this sad incident to tear us apart.

“As leaders of the Hausa community, we were not happy with what happened and we worked to see that things did not get out of hand and we thank God that she is back,” he added.

“This incident shows that there is need for everyone to brace up to their responsibilities. All hands are pointing at Yunusa and no one is looking at the lapses on the parts of others. The parents have their blame as well as all others who had one role or the other to play in all these.

“Yunusa was not a stranger to the Orurus; he was well known to them and that brings the issue of parental care and vigilance, which is missing in our society today.”