In a powerful story of resilience and redemption, Ese Oruru, the young girl whose 2015 abduction and forced marriage sparked national outrage in Nigeria, has graduated from the University of Ilorin.
The uplifting news was shared by former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, on her X (formerly Twitter) handle, where she posted a graduation photo of a beaming Oruru in her academic regalia.
“I am super-joyful to honour and celebrate the academic achievement of Ese Oruru!” Ezekwesili wrote. “Ese graduated 2nd Class Upper Division in Education Technology today at the University of Ilorin and now stands as a testament of what a determined mind can accomplish.”
Oruru’s journey to this milestone has been arduous. In 2015, at just 14 years old, she was abducted from her family’s home in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, by one Yunusa Dahiru, who took her to Kano State. There, she was forcibly converted to Islam and reportedly forced into marriage with her abductor.
The case triggered widespread public condemnation and led to police intervention, which secured her rescue in early 2016. Upon her return, Oruru was placed under the care of the police’s gender and child protection unit, where she received crucial psychological and emotional support. Later that year, she gave birth to a baby girl.
Justice was served when a Federal High Court in Yenagoa convicted Yunusa Dahiru in May 2021 for her abduction. The presiding judge, Justice Jane Inyang, sentenced him to 26 years in imprisonment. The court established that Dahiru had not only abducted the minor but had also raped her, leading to her pregnancy.
Yunusa Dahiru
Ezekwesili, a prominent girl-child advocate, highlighted the significance of Oruru’s achievement in the face of such adversity. “Above all, I thank God for Ese,” she added. “The future holds so much greater promise for this young woman whose life has evolved into an extraordinary inspiration and role model for us all.”
