Human rights organisation, Amnesty International, has renewed calls for an independent investigation of the prolonged disappearance of an activist Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata.

Mr Dadiyata was abducted in August 2019 by suspected gunmen and nothing was heard of him since his abduction. 

In a statement on Saturday, Amnesty said Mr Dadiyata was allegedly kidnapped over his outspoken presence on social media, urging authorities to take urgent action.

“The abduction of Abubakar Idris (Dadiyata) on 2 August 2019 in Kaduna is connected to to his critical voice on social media. The time for investigation is now,” the rights group stated.

Amnesty further expressed concerns over Mr Dadiyata’s prolonged disappearance, citing its emotional impact on his family and loved ones.

The group stressed the need for an independent, public and resourceful investigation into his abduction.

“His family has been living with the anguish of not knowing his whereabouts,” it explained. “An independent, public and resourceful investigation is urgently needed to establish the truth.”

The renewed calls for an urgently transparent probe into Mr Dadiyata’s disappearance came after former Kaduna governor, Nasir El-Rufai, accused ex-Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, of being responsible for the abduction and presumed murder of the activist.

However, Mr Ganduje described Mr El-Rufai’s allegations as reckless, unfounded, and a clear attempt to shift responsibility for an incident that occurred in Kaduna State.