The Controversy Surrounding Walida Abdulhadi’s Case
The case of Walida Abdulhadi, a 16-year-old girl from Jigawa State who was allegedly abducted by a DSS officer, has sparked intense public debate and legal scrutiny. Her family’s lawyer has accused the Minister of Women Affairs and the DSS of distorting facts in the matter.
Arewa PUNCH reported that after months of silence, public outcry, and intervention by the Jigawa State Government, the DSS finally released Walida Abdulhadi to Governor Namadi on Wednesday night, following a court order secured by her family’s law firm.
Earlier, the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman Ibrahim, claimed at a press conference in Abuja that Walida’s age had been verified by the National Population Commission, stating she is 22 years old as at the time she was declared missing. She emphasized that, according to the Child Rights Act and the Constitution, a child is defined as anyone under 18 years. The minister also dismissed claims that Walida was abducted, suggesting her continued stay in DSS custody was voluntary due to credible threats to her life.
The Deputy Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications at the DSS National Headquarters in Abuja, Favour Dozie, confirmed the development, stating that the girl was transferred to the Jigawa State Government around 5:45 pm on February 26, 2026. He mentioned that the girl was received by Umar Namadi, the Jigawa governor, and other top officials, noting that her release followed completion of findings by the joint investigation committee set up to probe her alleged disappearance.
However, Barrister Adamu, the family lawyer of Walida Abdulhadi, dismissed these claims as “unfortunate and incorrect.” He stated that Walida was born in 2008 and her parents got married in 2007, challenging the minister’s assertion that she was 22 years old at the time of her abduction. He argued that if you calculate 2007 minus 2026, it gives 18 years, not 22. According to him, Walida is currently 18 years old.
Adamu also questioned the source of the minister’s claim, suggesting that the figures were unverified. He accused the minister of diluting facts and trying to avoid the truth that Walida was abducted when she was 16 years old. He revealed that he had visited Walida’s school and obtained her records, pointing out that the records are there and questioning why the authorities didn’t go to where the girl is schooling to obtain them.
Speaking on Walida’s abduction, the lawyer highlighted that the suspect confessed to abducting Walida and six others. He mentioned that the suspect told Walida’s uncle that he did Walida a favor by picking her, as she would have been dead otherwise. Adamu also pointed out that the suspect liked Walida because of her “partial exposure,” which led to her being picked.
Furthermore, Adamu revealed that the suspect stated a friend of his took charge of the remaining six girls and took them to Enugu. He demanded that the suspect be brought to Jigawa State and handed over to the police for investigation, stressing that investigations should be conducted into this matter.
The lawyer also accused the DSS of changing their narration, initially claiming that Walida was an Igbo girl, then shifting to saying she was not abducted by their officer. He emphasized that the suspect had made the same statement to Walida’s uncle, and the uncle is still alive and healthy, ready to present the facts.
Barrister Adamu urged the authorities to obey the court order, maintaining that the only concern is letting the order of the court be obeyed and allowing the suspect to face the investigation. He expressed frustration that young girls are going missing from the North and called for justice to be done.
He also questioned why the focus is on Hausa/Fulani communities, pointing out that young boys and girls are missing from various states but not from others like Benue, Kwara, or Kogi. He escalated the situation, remarking that the security personnel are involved, and his agency is helping protect the suspect.
Commenting further on Walida’s release, Barrister Adamu lauded the event as a historical day, thanking Governor Namadi for his quick response. However, he maintained that the job was not done, urging the governor to ensure compliance with the court order by bringing the suspect down to Jigawa State and handing him over to the police.
Despite her release, the suspected officer, Ifeanyi Onyewuenyi, remains at large, prompting continued outrage and demands for justice, as the court had directed his production before the Jigawa State Commissioner of Police.
Our correspondent reports that Walida’s case has continued to spark widespread concerns and calls for action from and within Jigawa State.
