It has been four years since Idris Abubakar, popularly known as Dadiyata, was abducted from his home in Kaduna, North-West, Nigeria. 

On August 2, 2019, unidentified men seized Dadiyata at the entrance of his home, and to date, neither the whereabouts of Dadiyata nor the identity of his abductors is known. The question of  ‘Where is Dadiyata?’ has been asked for four years, and the  Nigerian authorities have provided no concrete response. 

Dadiyata is a known critic of the Nigerian government on social media, and like many other critics of the Nigerian government who have had to endure harassment, arrest, threats, and litigations by the state actors, Dadiyata’s case is not far-fetched from these scenarios. On May 8, 2019, the police command arrested Steven Kefason, a critic of the Kaduna state government and detained him for  162 days over a Facebook post. The pattern of disappearances of government critics in Nigeria has long been established. 

Nigeria’s secret police, Department of State Services (DSS) and the Kaduna state government have denied having any involvement with Dadiyata’s disappearance, but this does not negate the fact that the government has failed in protecting his human rights. The government’s pivotal responsibility is to protect the basic human rights of citizens, such as the right to movement and liberty. 

Time after time, the Nigerian government have made efforts to restrain the freedom of expression of its citizens and press freedom. The nonchalance of the state authorities in conducting adequate investigations of missing persons in the country is quite alarming. To date, there is no definitive national data on the number of missing persons in Nigeria because there is no official index. It is safe to say that the government’s effort in investigating Dadiyata’s case, if any, is below par. 

The ‘Where is Dadiyata?’ movement is not limited to finding Dadiyata; it is to reassure citizens and the media that the freedom of expression in Nigeria is adequately defended and unwavering. It is four years down the line, and there has not been a single headway regarding Dadiyata’s case. The question of ‘Where is Dadiyata?’ has sprung up new questions of ‘What does this mean for other government critics? ‘Are the state actors incapable of protecting the rights of its citizens?’ ‘Is the freedom of  expression actually free in Nigeria after all?’ ‘Does this translate to a leverage for abductors to go  scot-free in Nigeria?’ 

The languidness of the Nigerian authorities in tackling cases of missing persons and protecting the fundamental human rights of its citizens has become a matter of a ship without a rudder. The authorities must scrutinise the incessant disappearances of government critics as it remains their responsibility to protect the rights of all citizens and ensure that the rights of the citizens are upheld. 

We beseech the state actors to address the four-year-long case of Dadiyata’s disappearance and divulge information concerning his whereabouts. The train of unexplained arrests and disappearances of citizens must come to a halt. Accountability, justice, and transparency from the government are long overdue, and we will continue to ask the question of ‘Where is Dadiyata?’ and this question will not pass by as insignificant. 

State authorities must provide answers. There must be a concrete investigation regarding his case.  The government must uphold Dadiyata’s human rights and bring him home safely. His protection, just like every other citizen, must be a priority of the government.

Ameedat Abdusalam is with Amnesty International Nigeria