‘Yinusa didn’t work for us,’ Teenager’s parents say

Ese was abducted from Bayelsa by Yinusa in 2015 and taken to Kano State where she remained until yesterday, March 2, 2016.

The claim was made by Yinusa’s father, Dahiru Bala, in a recent interview with Vanguard.

“Yinusa did not work with us for 10 years as the father claimed. That is not true. We only got to know about him in the area in 2012,” Ese’s mother, Rose Oruru told Punch.

The abduction has also been surrounded by much controversy due to the involvement of the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. Earlier Media reports had it that Yinusa was being protected by persons within the Emir’s palace.

The claim was further strengthened after Arase said that he couldn’t save the girl without Sanusi’s intervention. The Emir however told Punch that he had ordered that Ese be returned home since September 2015.

“I ordered her repatriation since September 2015 through the office of the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 1. But to my surprise, the issue is still in between the Sharia Commission, Hisbah (religious police) and the Police,”Sanusi said.

“Ese is under aged and she can’t be married off as an under aged. Every Muslim also knows that marriage can’t be without guidance. She must be taken back to her parents; she can only marry when she reaches the age of 18 years,” Sanusi added.

undefined

Meanwhile, Ese has reportedly said that she wasn’t abducted but went with Yinusa of her own accord.

undefined

“No. I am not abducted by anybody,” the teenager supposedly said in an audio recording obtained by Premium Times. "My name is Aisha Chuwas. I am 17-year-old. I came here to be a Muslim and I will stay here,” she added.

undefined

Ese’s parents have however maintained that she is 14-years-old despite her claim to be 17. Meanwhile, the age of her abductor is still in dispute.