Six years after Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata, was abducted from his home in Kaduna State, his family has renewed their demand for justice and accountability, calling on President Bola Tinubu to break the silence surrounding his disappearance.
Speaking at a press conference organized by Amnesty International in Kaduna on Saturday, Dadiyata’s elder brother, Usman Idris, delivered a moving address describing the pain of the last six years as “an endless nightmare.”
“It has been six years of pain, uncertainty, and silence,” he said.
“Abubakar was no criminal. He was not a terrorist. He was a lecturer, a husband, a father, and a citizen who used words, not weapons, to inspire reform and challenge injustice.”
Abubakar Idris, a university lecturer and fierce social media critic of government policies, was abducted on the night of August 2, 2019, shortly after returning home.
Witnesses said he was taken by unidentified men in what many rights groups have described as an enforced disappearance.
Since that night, his whereabouts remain unknown, and no individual or institution has claimed responsibility for his abduction.
Usman Idris said the trauma of his brother’s disappearance has taken a heavy toll on the entire family.
“His wife and children have been left without support. His father’s health has deteriorated, and our mother died without ever finding closure,” he said.
“Our mother died of a broken heart. She believed he would return. She waited and waited — and died waiting. One of our uncles also passed, worn down by the same grief. Our father is still with us, but each day is a struggle.”
Despite submitting several petitions and appeals to authorities — including the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Attorney General of the Federation — the family said they have received no answers.
“Six years is too long to wait. Too long to suffer. Too long for justice to remain silent. We ask again: Where is Abubakar Idris Dadiyata?” he said. “Is he alive? Can he still be brought home?”
The family emphasized that Dadiyata’s only “offence” was his courage to speak out against injustice.
“He was a voice for the voiceless. He believed in the promise of Nigeria. His academic brilliance was only matched by his passion for a better country,” Usman added.
“He didn’t carry a gun. He carried his thoughts. And for that, he vanished.”
The family also acknowledged the role of civil society groups and journalists who have kept the issue alive.
“We thank Amnesty International…and others who refused to let the world forget. Your support is a source of strength,” he said.
A widely circulated cartoon showing Dadiyata’s young daughter Hanifah holding a placard that reads “Mr President, where is my daddy?”, was also referenced.
“That image captured everything — the innocence of a child and the failure of a nation,” Usman said.
In her remarks at the event, Amnesty International Nigeria’s Country Director, Isa Sanusi, said Dadiyata’s disappearance fits the definition of enforced disappearance under international law.
“This is not just a missing persons case. It is an enforced disappearance — a serious violation of human rights,” he said.
“The Nigerian government has a legal and moral duty to investigate this case thoroughly, independently, and transparently.”
Sanusi reiterated Amnesty’s demand for an investigation, noting that the case reflects a broader climate of impunity and insecurity for dissenting voices in Nigeria.
“We have written to successive administrations. We will not stop until justice is served — not just for Dadiyata, but for every Nigerian whose rights have been trampled,” Sanusi added.
The family made a passionate appeal to President Tinubu and Nigeria’s security agencies for help.
“We call on President Bola Tinubu, the National Security Adviser, the DSS, the Police — please end this silence,” Usman said.
“Tell us where our brother is. Bring him home. Give us justice. We will not be silenced. We will keep asking: Where is Dadiyata?”
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