KEY POINTS

• Sowore demands an immediate police probe into officers allegedly linked to Dadiyata’s 2019 abduction.
• El-Rufai denies state involvement but says the activist’s criticism targeted the Kano government.
• Rights groups insist on a transparent investigation as Dadiyata’s fate remains unknown.

Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has urged the Nigeria Police Force to swiftly investigate and identify officers allegedly linked to the 2019 abduction of social media commentator Abubakar Idris, widely known as Dadiyata.

Dadiyata was reportedly taken by unidentified gunmen on August 2, 2019, from his residence in Kaduna.

Despite public outrage and initial police inquiries at the time, his whereabouts remain unknown nearly seven years later, fueling renewed demands for accountability and transparency.

The renewed calls followed remarks by former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai during an interview on Arise News Prime Time.

El-Rufai stated that the Kaduna State government had no role in the abduction and suggested that Dadiyata’s activism had targeted the Kano State administration.

According to him, Dadiyata’s criticism was directed primarily at former Kano governor Abdullahi Ganduje, adding that he personally did not know the activist.

Sowore Questions Alleged Prior Knowledge

Reacting through his verified social media accounts, Sowore said it was troubling that El-Rufai appeared to suggest he knew who was responsible yet remained silent for years.

He argued that if there is any claim that law enforcement officers were involved, the police must urgently uncover the truth, identify every unit implicated, and publicly disclose their findings.

Sowore also used the moment to distance himself from political alliances he described as morally compromised, ending his statement with the campaign hashtag #WhereisDadiyata?

International watchdog Amnesty International and other civil society organisations have consistently called for an independent and transparent investigation into the disappearance.

Despite repeated appeals, no official report has clarified what happened to Dadiyata or confirmed whether any suspects were identified.

The prolonged silence surrounding the case has kept it in public discourse as a symbol of unresolved disappearances in Nigeria.

Analysts note that each new public comment by political figures reignites debate about accountability, state responsibility, and the effectiveness of law-enforcement investigations.