The Action Group on Free Civic Space (AGFCS) has expressed profound concern over the unresolved disappearance of Abubakar Idris, a university lecturer and political activist popularly known as Dadiyata.
Idris has been missing since his abduction in August 2019, leaving a lingering void in Nigeria’s civic space.
Consequently, the AGFCS is calling on the Inspector General of Police and relevant security agencies to launch an immediate, transparent, and independent investigation.
This inquiry must account for all available evidence and recent public statements.
Furthermore, the group demands that the findings be made public, clearly communicated to the Idris family, and used to ensure full accountability for those responsible.
“We reiterate that enforced disappearance poses a grave threat to civic space and has no place in any democratic society.
“Dadiyata’s family is owed truth and closure, and Nigeria is owed accountability. Justice must not be allowed to remain in abeyance,” they said in a statement emailed to Persecondnews on Saturday.
Persecondnews recalls that on August 2, 2019, Dadiyata, a political activist and a 34-year-old lecturer at the Federal University Dutsin-Ma, was reportedly seized by unidentified armed men as he arrived at his home in Barnawa, Kaduna State.
He has remained unseen ever since. Local and international civil society organizations widely condemned Dadiyata’s disappearance and filed several lawsuits challenging the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.
The statement was signed by:
• African Focus For Youth Development (AFFYD)
• Centre for Community Empowerment in Conflict and Peacebuilding – Kaduna
• Spaces for Change | S4C West Africa
• Centre for Community Empowement and Poverty Eradication, Kwara
• Restorative Justice for Africa Initiative (REJA) co-signs.
• Community Youths Arise Network – Bayelsa
• Entrepreneurship Initiative for African Youth (EIFAY Africa)
• Institutional and sustainable development Foundation ( FCT )
• Elixir Trust Foundation
• Open Society on Justice Reform Project (OSJRP)
• Rule of Law Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) and
• Dandalin Matasa Initiative for Rapid Development.
It stated: “However, Dadiyata’s whereabouts remain unknown, thus representing one of Nigeria’s most troubling unresolved cases of enforced disappearance of civic actors.
“Recently, there have been claims about Dadiyata’s disappearance being politically motivated. Whether the recent claims are accurate or not, the only responsible path forward is a prompt, independent, and transparent investigation by the Nigeria Police Force.
“Media reports reference possible knowledge of those responsible, including mention of an alleged confession by a police
officer.
‘According to the Rule of Law and Advocacy Accountability Centre (RULAAC), “recent public comments by Nasir El-Rufai (then Governor of Kaduna State during the period of Dadiyata’s abduction) during a live interview have raised grave concerns regarding the enforced disappearance of political activist Abubakar Idris, widely known as Dadiyata.
‘In that interview, El-Rufai reportedly pointed fingers at Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who was the Governor of Kano State at the time of Dadiyata’s abduction.
He also referenced an alleged confession by a police officer purportedly involved in the operation. If these claims are accurate, they are explosive.”
AGFCS pointed out that enforced disappearance is a grave human rights violation and a threat to constitutional guarantees of right to life, liberty, dignity, and freedom of expression under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), and other extant international human rights instrument
“When individuals (especially civic actors) disappear without accountability, fear spreads, and civic space shrinks.”
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