Bayelsans who gathered in Ese’s Opolo residence on Wednesday to welcome her were greeted with the information that Ese had been taken to the police officers mess in Yenagoa instead of her home.
The disappointed youths and neighbours, including journalists had to disperse while some journalists went to government house to catch a glimpse of Ese but were disappointed because Ese was shielded from journalists. Since then, nobody had set eyes on the girl who is now said to be in the custody of police at the police officers mess.
The parents were also said to have been taken to the police officers’ mess to join her in the guise of protecting her since she is still a minor. It is not known how long Ese and her parents will stay at the mess.
When our correspondent visited the Orurus abode at Opolo, the house was under lock and key since the parents of the girl have also gone to join their daughter. A police officer who spoke under the condition of anonymity because they have been barred from speaking to the press, said the parents should be with the girl at this critical time because she is a minor and needs to be with her parents. He said the police were protecting the girl and that the parents were not complaining.
Chairman of Civil Liberties Organisation Nengi James Orioworio, said it was better Ese was shielded from the public because of stigma. “We know the implication of what has happened to her. My own thinking is that it is the stigma they are avoiding. If they expose her too much, she may even kill herself. So the best option now is to protect her from the public. It is even better the family should relocate, that is the only thing that can save that girl’s future,” he said.
He added that if the girl must live longer, isolation is the best answer. A cleric, who simply gave his name as Pastor Ese, while reacting to the purported plan of Ese’s parents to take her to Prophet T.B Joshua of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) for deliverance, said the issue does not arise because according to him, there are other notable men of God that could deliver Ese in Yenagoa including himself.
The pastor of Ese’s local church (Distinguished Peoples Assembly), where she used to worship before the abduction, Mr. Dotimi Egbegi, who is also the chaplain of Bayelsa State Government House, was not available as at the time of filing this report but in a telephone call put through to him by his secretary, he said there was no need going to T.B Joshua. According to him, the whole church – DPA prayed fervently when the girl was abducted.
