We keep asking: Where is Dadiyata? – Country Director, Sanusi
From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
Amnesty International has tasked President Bola Tinubu to “take interest in the case of Abubakar Idris popularly known as Dadiyata over his unresolved disappearance, six years after he was abducted by unknown persons in Kaduna.
At a press conference in Kaduna on Saturday, Isa Sanusi, Country Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, described the case as a painful symbol of growing impunity, human rights abuse, and shrinking civic space in Nigeria.
Sanusi urged President Bola Tinubu to act where his predecessor failed, by ordering a thorough and transparent investigation. “Time is running out. The family needs closure. The country needs answers. The government must be the search party,” he stated.
Dadiyata, a university lecturer and prominent social media critic, was taken from his home on August 2, 2019, by masked gunmen who whisked him away in his car as he returned from work, and since then, his whereabouts remain unknown.
“His family waited, hoping he would return that night. They waited and waited. From days, to months, to years. Now it’s six years. We are still asking: where is Dadiyata?” Sanusi said.
He described Dadiyata as an energetic and principled voice, committed to justice and the upliftment of ordinary Nigerians through fearless political commentary and activism online.
Sanusi noted that the nature of the abduction points to patterns common in authoritarian regimes, where enforced disappearance is used as a tool to instil fear and silence dissent. “This violates multiple human rights and leaves communities gripped in fear,” he stated.
Although the Nigerian government has repeatedly denied any involvement, Amnesty International insists the burden of responsibility lies squarely on the state. “Even if the government didn’t take him, they failed to protect him. Human rights are state obligations,” Sanusi declared.
He criticised security agencies for offering nothing beyond “weak and weightless” promises. “Six years on, there has been no investigation result, no update, no justice—absolutely nothing,” he added.
Dadiyata’s younger brother, Usman Idris, described the family’s ordeal as a never-ending nightmare. “His abduction trampled on human dignity and violated the Constitution. It shattered our family. Our mother died still hoping to see him. One of our uncles died from the anguish. Our father is barely holding on,” he said.
He recalled that Dadiyata was not a criminal but a patriotic citizen who believed in using his voice to demand a better Nigeria. “He stood for the voiceless and paid the price. But our fight continues. We want answers. We want justice,” Usman said.
Dadiyata’s wife, Khadija Ahmad Lame, broke down in tears as she recalled how their children have endured six years of unanswered questions. “They keep asking me, ‘Where is Daddy?’ I have no answers. We live in grief every single day,” she said.
Amnesty International also warned of increasing repression of dissent and criminalisation of free speech in Nigeria, describing the disappearance as a chilling message to critics. “This is not just about Dadiyata. It’s about all Nigerians who dare to speak truth to power,”
The rights group reaffirmed its commitment to seeking justice and demanded an end to the silence. “Justice delayed must not be justice denied. Where is Dadiyata?”. Sanusi said.
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