THE UNSETTLING SAGA OF CITIZEN WALIDA
The facts about Walida’s case should be put in the public domain
Last Tuesday, commonsense prevailed in the drama surrounding a young woman, Ms Walida Abdulhadi Ibrahim, who was reportedly abducted from Jigawa State. She was handed to the Governor of Jigawa State, Umar Namadi by the Department of State Services (DSS) Director General, Oluwatosin Ajayi at a public ceremony. Representatives from the Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) and other civil society organisations were also present at the occasion. But while Walida may have regained ‘freedom’, several pertinent questions remain.
At the centre of the controversy is a DSS officer identified as Ifeanyi Onyewuenyi. A magistrate court in Jigawa reportedly issued directives for his arrest and investigation over allegations that he abducted Walida and unlawfully kept her in Abuja for nearly two years. It was a story with striking similarity with that of Ese Oruru, abducted at age 13 in Bayelsa State, forced into marriage and Islam. In this case, what started as the mysterious disappearance of a teenage girl from her hometown of Hadejia, Jigawa State soon evolved into a matter that tested the integrity of our institutions and ethno-religious divides. It also drew scrutiny from both local and international civil society advocates who demanded clarity, transparency, and accountability.
According to petitions filed on behalf of her parents, Walida was said to have been 16 years old at the time of her disappearance in 2023. She was reportedly transported to Abuja, allegedly detained, compelled to renounce her Muslim faith, and subjected to sexual exploitation that ultimately resulted in the birth of a child. All of these by an official of the DSS. If proven true, these accusations represent not only a gross violation of human rights but also a disturbing abuse of authority by a member of an agency entrusted with safeguarding citizens.
However, unlike Ms Oruru, who recently graduated from University of Ilorin, the Walida saga has elicited conflicting accounts that challenge elements of the original allegations. Statements attributed to Walida in an exclusive interview appear to dispute the narrative presented by her parents. In those accounts, Walida reportedly maintained that she was not abducted while also suggesting that her age may have been misrepresented. Such conflicting accounts raise difficult questions. Is this the tragic story of a vulnerable minor removed from her family and exploited under the protection of institutional power? Or could it be, as some suggest, the story of a young woman whose personal choices have been interpreted through the lens of family and community expectations? The answer remains unclear, and it is precisely this uncertainty that underscores the necessity for a thorough and impartial investigation.
Defending the DSS, the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, disclosed that her ministry was aware of the threats to Walida’s life hence “her safety remains the overriding priority in all decisions concerning her.” On the issue of age, the Minister said, “Let me reaffirm that Walida’s age has been officially verified by the National Population Commission; she is 22 years old. By the provisions of the Child Rights Act and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a child is defined as anyone under 18 years.” This suggests that Walida was already an adult by the time she was purportedly abducted from home.
Whatever may be the case regarding whether Walida left home by her choice or she was indeed abducted, what is beyond dispute is the gravity of the allegations and the responsibility of state institutions to address them with transparency and urgency. When accusations involve officials of powerful security agencies, public confidence depends heavily on the willingness of those institutions to subject themselves to scrutiny and due process. In this instance, the involvement of the DSS raises legitimate concerns about potential conflicts of interest even when the truth remains entangled in competing narratives, legal proceedings and public speculation.
Meanwhile, what started as the disappearance of a girl from a quiet community in Jigawa State has grown into a national conversation about religion, accountability and the limits of institutional power. What is therefore required is a careful and impartial determination of the facts. And if wrongdoing is established on the part of anybody, such a person must face the full weight of the law. It is only through such measures that justice can be served and confidence in the institutions tasked with protecting Nigerians restored.
