The Digest:
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai has denied any involvement in the 2019 abduction of lecturer and social media commentator Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata. Speaking on Arise News, el-Rufai claimed Dadiyata was not a critic of the Kaduna government but a "fierce critic" of Kano State Government, suggesting former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje "was his problem." El-Rufai stated he never knew Dadiyata existed until his family reported the abduction to police. Dadiyata was abducted from his Kaduna home on August 2, 2019, by masked men and has not been seen since. Human rights groups including Amnesty International have condemned the federal government's "silence and lack of action" on the case.
Key Points:
- The case remains a symbol of unresolved enforced disappearances and lack of accountability.
- It highlights the vulnerability of outspoken critics and the failure of investigative agencies.
- Dadiyata's family continues to seek justice, while successive administrations avoid responsibility.
- This signals the enduring pain of unresolved abduction cases and impunity for perpetrators.
- The timing, with el-Rufai's denial, reignites public interest in a long-cold case.
Sources: Daily Trust, Arise News, Amnesty International
