Governor Namadi Takes Custody Of Missing Jigawa Girl Walida From DSS, Vows Justice Over Alleged Abduction, Exploitation

Abuja, Nigeria — Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State on Wednesday night formally took custody of Walida Abdulhadi Ibrahim, the teenage girl from Hadejia who had been held by the Department of State Services (DSS), bringing a dramatic twist to a case that has generated nationwide outrage and religious tension.

The handover, which took place at the DSS headquarters in Abuja and lasted until about 10:40 p.m., was conducted by the Director General of the DSS, Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, alongside principal officers of the Service.

Governor Namadi was accompanied by the Speaker of the Jigawa State House of Assembly, Haruna Aliyu; the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Barrister Bello Abdulkadir Fanini; the Commissioner of Women Affairs, Hajiya Hadiza Abdulwahab; and the Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Nura Ibrahim Doka, among other top government officials.

Also present were representatives of the Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), including its Deputy National Legal Adviser, Barrister Haroun Muhammad, and Alhaji Najib Jimoh, a member of its Expanded General Purpose Committee.

Officials of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), other civil society organisations, and members of the media witnessed the late-night transfer.

However, Walida’s parents were conspicuously absent during the handover.

Speaking shortly after receiving Walida, Governor Namadi declared that all contentious issues surrounding her alleged abduction would be resolved through legal channels.

“Our concern is that Walida had been abducted,” the governor said firmly.

He added that the controversy would be tabled before a court of competent jurisdiction for adjudication.

“It is a state matter and will be treated as such,” he said.

The governor stressed that Walida is “a daughter of Jigawa State” and assured Nigerians that his administration would ensure her safety and full recovery from whatever trauma she might have experienced.

He further disclosed that the baby girl delivered by Walida in November 2025 for a DSS operative, Ifeanyi Onyewuenyi, would also be placed under the custody of the Jigawa State government.

When pressed by journalists on why Walida’s parents were not carried along in the transfer process and whether she would be immediately returned to Jigawa, Namadi clarified:

“Taking her into our custody does not automatically mean that she will be taken back to Jigawa.

“Walida will be kept in Abuja for now. She will be provided with adequate security. Her case is a state matter and will be treated as such.”

On the controversy surrounding her age, the governor said the court would ultimately resolve the dispute.

Walida reportedly went missing in 2023 from Hadejia Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

She was allegedly abducted by a woman identified as Mariam, who was said to have subjected her to sexual exploitation before fleeing.

Walida later surfaced in Abuja, where she reportedly moved in with a DSS operative, Ifeanyi Onyewuenyi. In December 2025, her father received a call from Ifeanyi informing him that his daughter was with him.

For over two years, her disappearance had plunged her family into anguish. According to advocacy groups, her father, overwhelmed by uncertainty, performed funeral rites believing she was dead.

After strenuous efforts by relatives to retrieve her proved abortive, her uncle reportedly filed a petition at the DSS headquarters in Abuja.

The family also approached a court in Jigawa State, which directed that Walida be released to her parents.

However, the DSS filed a counter-motion, maintaining that it was still investigating the matter.

The controversy deepened following media reports, which triggered widespread public outcry over her continued stay in DSS custody.

The case spiraled into a raging debate involving allegations of abduction, religious conversion to Christianity, sexual exploitation, and custodial rights.

On Monday, a coalition comprising the Abuja chapter of Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN), the Muslim Students’ Organisation of Nigeria (MSO), and Women in Da’awa addressed a world press conference in Abuja.

Speaking on behalf of the Concerned Coalition for Walida Abdulhadi, Ustaz Yunus Salahudeen said the matter transcended religion.

“The matter goes beyond religion and touches on broader issues of justice, constitutional order, and human rights,” he said.

He added that Walida’s disappearance caused her family “unimaginable distress” for more than two years.

Responding to questions about why the Service retained Walida in custody since her recovery from Ifeanyi in January 2026, DSS Director General Ajayi insisted that the decision was guided strictly by law and safety concerns.

“It is unfortunate that people don’t learn from history in Nigeria. Our major concern is about the safety and the future of Walida,” Ajayi said.

“She is a young woman who has the right to live, and we have the responsibility to ensure she is safe while the matter is being investigated.”

He revealed that the governor was invited to witness the process.

“I invited the governor, which is the right thing to do, and he has seen what we are doing. It is an inter-agency investigation, and we deliberately invited various groups to be part of what we are doing.

“We also invited the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to ascertain her mental status.”

Ajayi added that even though Walida had now been handed over to the Jigawa State government, multiple agencies would remain involved.

“The DSS, police, Civil Defence, FIDA, and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs will remain involved. We have the capacity to investigate the matter,” he said.

He recalled his tenure as State Director of the DSS in Bayelsa during the controversial Ese Oruru abduction saga, lamenting that “some unpatriotic Nigerians” exploited that incident to whip up sentiments.

On the fate of Ifeanyi Onyewuenyi, Ajayi confirmed that the operative remains in DSS custody.

“He will face the music when found wanting. We have rules guiding our operations,” he said.

Barrister Haroun Muhammad of the NSCIA said the council intervened to prevent escalation.

“The matter is capable of throwing the country into chaos. It can deepen the unfortunate existing division between Muslims and Christians, and whatever happened here today will send the right or wrong signal to society,” he warned.