The Abduction of Dadiyata: Nigeria Cannot Afford Silence or Impunity

The Abduction of Dadiyata: Nigeria Cannot Afford Silence or Impunity

• By Khaleed Yazeed

The disappearance of Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata, since August 2, 2019, is not just a personal tragedy, it is a glaring indictment of the Nigerian state’s commitment to justice, human rights, and accountability. For over six years, this activist has remained missing, and despite public outcry, police investigations, and statements from high-profile politicians, the truth about his whereabouts remains shrouded in uncertainty.

Recent claims by former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, suggesting that former Kano governor and ex-APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, was responsible for Dadiyata’s abduction, only deepen the urgency for a transparent investigation. El-Rufai maintains that Kaduna State had no role in the matter, yet this statement underscores a larger problem: accountability in Nigeria is often selective, contingent upon political allegiances rather than principles of law.

What is most disturbing is that a police officer allegedly confessed that Dadiyata’s abduction was orchestrated from Kano, implying state-level complicity. Yet, six years on, no concrete results have been made public. Civil society organizations, including Amnesty International, have repeatedly called for clarity, but their calls have largely been ignored. This pattern of inaction sends a chilling message: activists and critics of powerful political figures operate under constant risk, and the Nigerian government has proven unable or unwilling to protect them.

The abduction of Dadiyata is not just an attack on one man; it is an attack on democracy, civic space, and the very principle that no citizen should live in fear of state-sanctioned violence. The Nigerian state must act decisively. The families of abducted citizens deserve transparency, justice, and closure. The public deserves assurance that political power cannot shield perpetrators from accountability.

We demand:

Immediate, impartial investigation into Dadiyata’s abduction, free from political interference.

Public disclosure of all findings related to this case, including the identities of perpetrators and those who may have orchestrated the abduction.

Protective measures for activists across Nigeria, ensuring that criticism of government policies does not endanger personal safety.

Legal and punitive action against those found responsible, regardless of their political status or affiliations.

Nigeria cannot continue to normalize the disappearance of citizens. Justice delayed is justice denied, and silence in the face of such egregious violations only emboldens those who abuse power. Dadiyata’s case must no longer be a footnote in political convenience, it must become a catalyst for reform, transparency, and accountability.

The question is, how many more activists must vanish before Nigeria takes the rule of law seriously? Until this case is resolved, the Nigerian state cannot claim to protect its citizens, nor can it claim the moral authority to speak on human rights.