By Palang Paul
Amnesty International has renewed calls for a thorough investigation into the disappearance of Abubakar Idris, a social media activist popularly known as Dadiyata, who was abducted from his home in Kaduna more than six years ago.
The human rights organization issued a statement Saturday demanding answers in the case, which has remained unresolved since gunmen seized the outspoken commentator from his residence on August 2, 2019.
“The abduction of Abubakar Idris (Dadiyata) on 2 August 2019 in Kaduna is connected to his critical voice on social media. The time for investigation is now,” the organization declared in a statement titled “Where Is Dadiyata?”
Amnesty International emphasized the prolonged suffering endured by the activist’s family, describing their anguish over his unknown fate as an ongoing human rights concern. The organization called for “an independent, public and resourceful investigation” to establish the truth and ensure accountability.
Dadiyata’s disappearance has become a flashpoint for civil society groups and activists who continue to press authorities for clarity on what transpired and what steps have been taken to locate him.
The renewed demand follows recent political tensions between two prominent northern Nigerian figures over responsibility for the case.
Political Controversy Intensifies
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai alleged during an Arise News Prime Time interview on Friday that his successor, former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, was responsible for Dadiyata’s abduction. The activist was taken from Kaduna while El-Rufai was in office.
Ganduje’s office swiftly rejected the allegations as “reckless, unfounded, and a clear attempt to shift responsibility for an incident that occurred in Kaduna State.”
In a statement signed by Muhammad Garba, former Kano State Commissioner for Information, Ganduje’s camp emphasized that Dadiyata “lived and operated in Kaduna, where his criticisms were directed, and security responsibility at the time rested with the Kaduna State Government and federal agencies.”
The statement questioned why any alleged confession implicating Kano was never formally presented to security authorities, insisting that “serious accusations must be backed by verifiable evidence — not political rhetoric.”
Garba urged all parties to focus on ensuring that investigations into Dadiyata’s disappearance are conducted lawfully and transparently. “The attention should remain on due process and justice for Dadiyata’s family, rather than politicizing a painful and unresolved matter,” he added.
Calls for Accountability Persist
Amnesty International maintained that ensuring accountability in cases of enforced disappearance is essential to upholding human rights and the rule of law. The organization joins a chorus of civil society voices demanding that authorities in Kaduna State and federal security agencies provide transparency in the case.
Police conducted investigations at the time of the abduction, but Dadiyata’s whereabouts remain unknown, leaving his family and supporters in a prolonged state of uncertainty.
The case continues to generate public debate and concern, with human rights advocates emphasizing that unresolved disappearances undermine democratic principles and the rule of law.
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