DSS Reopens Probe into 2019 Disappearance of Abubakar ‘Dadiyata’ Idris as Wife Calls for Justice
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Reported by Afilawos Magana Sur, investigative Journalist at Sele Media Africa.
Nigeria’s domestic intelligence agency, the Department of State Services (DSS), has reopened investigations into the 2019 disappearance of Abubakar ‘Dadiyata’ Idris, a prominent government critic whose case has remained one of the country’s most troubling unresolved abduction cases. Idris, widely known by his social media moniker “Dadiyata,” was reportedly abducted by unidentified men in August 2019 in Barnawa, Kaduna State. Witnesses at the time said armed individuals seized him outside his residence and drove away, an incident that sparked national and international concern about freedom of expression and enforced disappearances in Nigeria. The renewed probe comes amid fresh appeals from his wife, who has publicly called for transparency, accountability, and closure nearly seven years after his disappearance. In recent statements, she expressed cautious optimism over the DSS’s decision to revisit the case but emphasized that her family continues to endure emotional and psychological distress without definitive answers. A Case that shook liberties discourse Dadiyata’s disappearance drew widespread condemnation from civil society organizations, media watchdogs, and human rights groups. Reports by outlets including BBC News, Premium Times, TheCable, and Daily Trust documented the circumstances surrounding his abduction and the subsequent calls for investigation. At the time, advocacy groups such as Amnesty International urged Nigerian authorities to conduct a thorough and transparent inquiry, stressing the broader implications for press freedom and political dissent in Africa’s most populous democracy. Despite intermittent assurances from security agencies over the years, no conclusive findings have been made public, and Idris’ whereabouts remain unknown. Renewed investigations and public expectations the DSS has not publicly disclosed specific new leads prompting the reopening of the investigation. However, security analysts say the move signals an acknowledgment of sustained public pressure and the enduring significance of the case within Nigeria’s democratic discourse. Legal experts note that under Nigerian law, enforced disappearance and abduction cases fall within the investigative purview of multiple security and law enforcement bodies, including the police and intelligence services. The renewed probe raises expectations that inter-agency cooperation and forensic advancements could potentially yield new evidence. For Dadiyata’s family, however, the issue transcends legal procedure. In her recent remarks, his wife underscored the human cost of prolonged uncertainty, describing years marked by unanswered questions and the struggle to sustain hope. Broader implications for accountability the reopening of the case arrives at a time when Nigeria continues to grapple with security challenges, including banditry, insurgency, and politically sensitive abductions. Analysts argue that resolving high-profile cases such as Dadiyata’s could reinforce public trust in institutions and strengthen Nigeria’s commitment to human rights protections under regional and international frameworks.As the DSS resumes its inquiry, civil society groups are urging the government to provide periodic public updates, ensure transparency, and protect potential witnesses. Nearly seven years after his disappearance, the case of Abubakar ‘Dadiyata’ Idris remains emblematic of the tensions between state security concerns and civic freedoms. For his family — and for many Nigerians — the renewed investigation represents not only a legal process but a test of institutional accountability. Sources: BBC News; Premium Times; TheCable; Daily Trust.
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