Nigerians have been using the #FreeEse hashtag on Twitter to campaign for the release of a young girl who was allegedly abducted and forced to convert to Islam.

Ese Oruru, 13, was taken by a man, named only as Yinusa, in August from her family home in southern Bayelsa state to the northern city of Kano where he married her, the girl's family says.

The family adds that they have made several efforts to bring her back but were told she was no longer their daughter.

Yinusa has denied abducting her or forcibly converting her.

There have been reports that the marriage took place at the palace of the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, an influential Muslim leader in Nigeria. He has vehemently denied this.

Mr Sanusi said the girl was brought to his palace after her alleged conversion to Islam but he told the person to return her to her family because she was too young.

"We asked that if he really wants her he should wait for her until she turns 18 and then if she still wants him they can get married. No-one will stand in the way," Mr Sanusi said in a statement.

Here are some of the tweets about the story: