Sowore Challenges El-Rufai: ‘Where is Dadiyata?’ – Calls for Transparency in Missing Journalist Case

By Investigative Correspondents

In a striking challenge aired live on Arise News, human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore confronted former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, urging him to disclose the whereabouts of abducted journalist Abubakar Idris, widely known as Dadiyata. The journalist, a vocal government critic, was kidnapped from his Kaduna residence in August 2019, and his fate remains shrouded in mystery.

A Disappearance That Still Haunts Nigeria

The case of Dadiyata has lingered in uncertainty, with neither the authorities nor security agencies providing concrete information on his abduction. Witnesses reported that unidentified armed men stormed his Barnawa residence in the dead of night, forcefully taking him away along with his BMW vehicle, which has never been recovered.

For nearly six years, Dadiyata’s family has waited in agony, seeking answers. Despite mounting pressure from civil society groups and human rights organizations, the Nigerian government has remained eerily silent, fueling suspicions of state complicity.

Sowore’s Direct Accusation: ‘Where is Dadiyata?’

During the broadcast, Sowore did not mince words as he addressed El-Rufai, who recently rebranded himself as a critic of President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Sowore pointedly asked:

"I saw El-Rufai on your show yesterday. He has suddenly become an activist after being in power for eight years. But first, he needs to confess—Where is Dadiyata?"

His remarks drew sharp reactions, reigniting national conversations about political disappearances and press freedom in Nigeria. Sowore further emphasized the chilling coincidence that on the very night Dadiyata vanished, he himself was detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) in Lagos, leading to speculation about a coordinated crackdown on dissent.

El-Rufai’s Silence and His Sudden Political Shift

El-Rufai, a former strongman within the All Progressives Congress (APC), has recently shifted gears, voicing discontent with the Tinubu-led government. This pivot, however, has been met with skepticism. Critics argue that before assuming the role of a government critic, he must address the unresolved human rights violations under his watch, including Dadiyata’s disappearance.

The former governor has yet to respond to Sowore’s direct challenge, adding to growing public distrust over his new stance.

A Family’s Long Ordeal: ‘We Are Still Waiting’

For Dadiyata’s family, time has not healed wounds—it has deepened them. His elderly father, Danjuma Yaro, recently expressed their enduring pain:

“We have tried our best, knocking on every door, meeting those in power, yet we have found no answers.”

Tragically, Dadiyata’s mother passed away, reportedly from the unbearable emotional distress of her son’s disappearance. The burden now rests on his wife and children, who remain trapped in an agonizing limbo.

Amnesty International, Civil Society Demand Justice

Human rights watchdog Amnesty International has consistently condemned the Nigerian government’s failure to provide answers. In a recent statement, the organization called for immediate accountability:

“The government has an obligation to determine the fate of Dadiyata and all those who have disappeared under suspicious circumstances.”

As public pressure mounts, civil society organizations, journalists, and activists are demanding full transparency from both federal and state authorities.

Growing Demand for Answers

The Nigerian public is no longer willing to accept silence as an answer. Dadiyata’s case represents a larger issue of enforced disappearances, a troubling pattern where critics and journalists vanish without trace.

As El-Rufai faces increasing scrutiny, the question remains: Will he break his silence?

For now, the world watches—and waits.