Civil Society Groups Demand Probe Into Dadiyata’s Disappearance

The Action Group on Free Civic Space (AGFCS), a coalition of civil society organisations, has renewed calls for accountability in the long-standing disappearance of political activist Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata.

Dadiyata, a lecturer at the Federal University Dutsin-Ma, was reportedly abducted on August 2, 2019, by unidentified armed men shortly after arriving at his residence in Barnawa, Kaduna State. Since then, his whereabouts have remained unknown, making his case one of Nigeria’s most troubling unresolved incidents involving a civic actor.

In a statement released by the coalition, AGFCS expressed deep concern over the lack of clarity surrounding the activist’s disappearance nearly five years later. The group noted that both local and international civil society organisations had previously condemned the incident and pursued legal action seeking answers, but no definitive information has emerged.

The coalition said recent public claims suggesting that the disappearance may have been politically motivated have heightened concerns. According to the statement, media reports referenced comments made by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai during a live interview, in which he allegedly pointed to former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and mentioned an alleged confession by a police officer said to have been involved in the operation.

Citing the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), the coalition described the claims as “grave” and potentially explosive if proven true.

AGFCS stressed that enforced disappearance constitutes a serious violation of human rights and undermines constitutional guarantees, including the rights to life, liberty, dignity, and freedom of expression under Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution (as amended), as well as international human rights instruments.

The coalition warned that when civic actors disappear without accountability, it creates fear and shrinks civic space in a democratic society.

AGFCS, therefore, called on the Inspector General of Police to immediately initiate a transparent and independent investigation into all available information, including recent public statements linked to the case. The group also urged the police to make the findings public and communicate clearly with Dadiyata’s family, while ensuring that anyone found responsible is held accountable.

“Dadiyata’s family is owed truth and closure, and Nigeria is owed accountability,” the coalition said, adding that justice must not be allowed to remain in abeyance.

The statement was jointly signed by several organisations, including African Focus for Youth Development (AFFYD), Spaces for Change (S4C) West Africa, Restorative Justice for Africa Initiative (REJA), Rule of Law Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), and other civic groups across the country.