Where is Dadiyata? -By Binzak Azeez

Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Abu Hanifa Dadiyata was a fierce critic of the Buhari – led administration and Governor Umar Ganduje of Kano State prior to his abduction on August 2, 2019. The circumstances that revolved the lecturer cum activist disappearance couldn’t be distanced from state sponsored abduction. Many eyewitness’ to the incident reported that Dadiyata was forcefully taken away in his Kaduna home premises at Barnawa on that fateful day by some Department of State Security (DSS) operatives.

Rigorous media campaigns began swiftly for Dadiyata’s release immediately the news of his apprehension broke. The national debate on the APC – led iron fist administration both at the federal and state levels particularly in Kaduna State was rejuvenated.

The night invasion of some justices’ residences in Abuja and Port Harcourt, Rivers State around October 2016 by the DSS. The gestapo night arrest and persecution of the critics of Mallam Nasir El – Rufai administrative style such as Steven Kefas, a journalist and human rights’ activist, John Danfulani, a former lecturer at Kaduna State University, Luka Binniyat, a journalist among others were in the mainstream national discourse hinged on the missing Dadiyata until Sowore’s arrest took over the national sphere.

Comrade Omoyele Sowore, a journalist and pro – democracy activist was arrested by the DSS on August 3, 2019 ahead of a planned nationwide RevolutionNow protest. Many international and local events played out before his release recently. The DSS fascism has extremely gained both international and local attention with the Sowore’s case.

In a bid to counter the growing tension revolving around other illegally detained prisoners of conscience, the agency has denied holding Dadiyata in custody.
Undoubtedly, Dadiyata is in the DSS custody. The recent blatant denial is an attempt to test run the new approach of state kidnapping ; a reincarnation of military strategy to utterly silence dissenting voices. Many Nigerians particularly the critics of the APC – led administration will begin to disappear if the DSS agency succeeds with Dadiyata’s abduction.

The Nigerians and international communities must continue to mount irresistible pressure till the heinous crimes against humanity are curtailed in the country. Moreover, all hands must be on deck to secure Dadiyata and other political prisoners from incarceration.

Binzak Azeez writes from the faculty of Law, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife