Amnesty International Urges President Tinubu to Investigate the Disappearance of Dadiyata After Six Years

Amnesty International Nigeria has formally called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take decisive and urgent action regarding the disappearance of Nigerian university lecturer and social media commentator, Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata, who vanished under mysterious circumstances in Kaduna State six years ago.

The global human rights organization expressed deep concern over the prolonged silence and lack of credible investigation into the lecturer’s abduction, which occurred on August 2, 2019. Amnesty International urged the President to demonstrate leadership by addressing what previous administrations failed to resolve.

Amnesty: Six Years of Government Silence Is Unacceptable

While speaking to journalists at a press conference held in Kaduna, Isa Sanusi, the Country Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, criticized the persistent inaction and seeming indifference of the Nigerian government in the face of an unresolved and suspicious disappearance.

Sanusi stressed that six years is an agonizingly long period, especially for the loved ones of someone forcibly taken, and yet the authorities have made no transparent effort to uncover the truth behind Dadiyata’s disappearance. He emphasized that President Tinubu has a moral and constitutional responsibility to show commitment where his predecessor failed.

Crackdown on Critics and Culture of Silence

According to Amnesty’s findings and observations over the years, critical voices in Nigeria—like Dadiyata—have increasingly come under attack. Isa Sanusi noted that the past few years have witnessed unlawful detentions, harassment, and legally questionable actions against dissenting voices and government critics.

He further pointed out that state actors have engaged in vexatious litigation and intimidation, all of which create an environment of fear, insecurity, and repression. This is why the government’s passive stance on Dadiyata’s case is not only alarming but symptomatic of a wider crisis in democratic expression and freedom of speech in Nigeria.

Six Years, No Update—No Justice

Sanusi lamented the fact that apart from unfulfilled and superficial promises by the police to investigate, there has been no concrete action or update six years after the incident. He stated:

“The Nigerian police and security agencies have not made any meaningful progress or publicly disclosed any findings. This total lack of accountability deepens the pain of Dadiyata’s family and erodes public trust.”

He added that enforced disappearances like Dadiyata’s are characteristic of societies where rule of law is weak, and such acts are explicitly prohibited under international human rights law. Enforced disappearances also infringe upon numerous fundamental rights including the right to liberty, security, and access to justice.

Call for Transparency and Accountability

Amnesty International insists that Nigerian authorities must close all speculative narratives surrounding Dadiyata’s fate by conducting a thorough, impartial, and credible investigation. The government must also make the findings public to bring closure to the victim’s family, friends, and the broader community affected by this tragedy.

Sanusi reiterated that such unresolved abductions instill widespread fear, not only within families directly affected but also among communities across Nigeria. This, in turn, contributes to a climate of terror and silence, which is antithetical to democratic principles and human rights.

Abduction Details: A Night of Horror in Kaduna

To recall the tragic incident, Abubakar Idris (Dadiyata) returned to his Kaduna residence on the evening of August 2, 2019, after a long day. Just as he was about to lock his front gate, he was ambushed by unknown armed men, reportedly wearing masks and heavily armed. Eyewitness accounts from his family say the assailants forced him into his own vehicle and drove off, vanishing without a trace.

Since that day, there has been no contact or demand, and the perpetrators have never been identified or apprehended.

Amnesty International and numerous Nigerians believe that Dadiyata’s disappearance is likely connected to his vocal criticism of government policies and politicians on social media. The organization insists that no individual should be targeted for exercising their right to free expression.