by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Amnesty International and the family of one Abubakar Idris, popularly known as “Dadiyata,” have re-kick-started aggressive Media Search Campaign over the disappeared of Dadiyata from his residence in Barnawa community, Kaduna South LGA of Kaduna City, Kaduna State.
Dadiyata, a serial government critic activist and university lecturer, was reportedly abducted from his residence by gunmen suspected to be politically-instigated by government, or its agent, on 2nd August 2019, under President Muhammadu Buhari regime.
Addressing an enlarged newsmen and Human Rights Activists in Kaduna Saturday, the family, in collaboration with Amnesty International said the victim, Abubakar Idris, widely called Dadiyata, arrived his residence in Kaduna on 2nd August 2019, after a long day, and drove into his house, and was about to lock entrance gate of his house when he was abducted by the gunmen.
Dadiyata’s wife, according to Country Director Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, who addressed the media, said the gunmen appeared and accosted the husband when he was about closing the entrance gate, and made away with him inside his own car.
The wife, Khadija Barle, according to the Country Director, said that those who abducted Dadiyata were face-masked and armed with heavy guns, saying, the family waited in vain, hoping that he would return that night, “And waited from day to days, month to months, and year to years till date, now six years.”
The Country Director, Sanusi, further stated that since the incident occurred, Amnesty, family, friends and all Nigerians have been asking of the whereabouts of Dadiyata for the past six years – without any corresponding answers to their questions.
“Dadiyata is someone I know personally. In fact, I spoke with him days before his abduction. He is energetic, courageous and respectfully. His activities on social media are noticeable for their incisive commitment to a better Nigeria.
“His political activities are rooted in uplifting of the common man. He is also known for his critical opinions on government and some politicians. Because of his critical voice, everybody agrees that we ought to be asking all hard questions about the circumstances that surround his disappearance,” the Country Director highlighted.
He also said that “Everyone, including Amnesty International, believes that the abduction of Dadiyata, a University lecturer, and Kwankwasia strong supporter, may not be unconnected with his criticism on government and some politicians on social media.”
Sanusi lamented that what happened could only occur in societies where law and order are weak or, under authoritarian rule, adding that “Enforced disappearance is a tactics used to spread terror in society, and is prohibited under international law, and violated a wide range of human rights.
“Even, if Dadiyata’s forceful disappearance did not only generate feelings of insecurity and fear among close relatives, it also affects the entire communities and society, as government of Nigeria has denied having anything to do with his disappearance,” he also emphasized.
He said, “To sound like the ‘right judgment’ is to say fingers should not be pointed at the government for the disappearance, since the details surrounding his incidents are inconclusive. However rational, as this argument appears to be, these fingers have to remain in the direction of the government, and is rightly so.
“Apart from this, Nigerian Government has a duty to close all the doors of speculation about what happened to Dadiyata by establishing the truth to end the anguish of his family and friends,” he added.
He also said that even if government played no active role in his disappearance, it obviously failed in protecting his rights, arguing that human rights are state obligations for his right to freedom of movement, liberty and any other rights he might have been denied, which are state duties to protect.
Amnesty in an aggrieved mode lamented that police investigation into the Dadiyata’s disappearance in six years has made no progress, and nothing to show whatsoever, describing it as “weak and weightless assurance.”
According to him, Amnesty firmly believes that Nigerian security agencies have a duty to investigate Dadiyata’s abduction and share the findings with public, but expressed dismay that six years without anything to clarify as established government efforts was unfair.
The body called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to show interest in the case of Dadiyata and do what his predecessor failed to do, restating that Amnesty must continue to push Nigerian Government, seeking national and globally support until information about the whereabouts of Dadiyata is known.
The Country Director also noted, with dismay, that it has been unpalatable for critics of government and dissenting voice in Nigeria in the past few years, alleging lots of endured illegal detentions, harassment and vexatious litigation by state actors and wider crackdown on freedom of expression currently.
Children, immediate family and relatives of the victims lamented economic challenges being faced due to the absence of Dadiyata, who was then “the bread winner,” six years ago, according to the wife, Haj Khadija Barle, who also disclosed that her mother-in-law died as a result of shock of the disappearance of the son.