By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa
Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has distanced himself and his administration from the controversial disappearance of social media commentator Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata, stating that the activist’s issues were linked to politics in Kano State, not Kaduna.
Speaking during an interview on *Prime Time* on Arise Television with Charles Aniagolu, El-Rufai said he had no personal knowledge of Dadiyata prior to reports of his alleged abduction.
“He is a critic of the Kano government; it was Ganduje that was his problem. I don’t even know him. We only got a report of Dadiyata’s existence after his family reported to the police that he was abducted,” El-Rufai said.
He further alleged that three days after the incident, a police officer posted from Kano to Ekiti allegedly confided in someone that they had been sent from Kano to abduct Dadiyata and later felt remorseful about the action.
“That is the only thing I know, but it was not a problem for Kaduna State,” he added.
Dadiyata, whose real name is Abubakar Idris, is a vocal government critic and social media influencer known for his sharp commentary on political issues, particularly in northern Nigeria. He gained prominence for frequently criticising the administration of former Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje.
News of his disappearance first surfaced online in August 2019, when reports emerged that he had been abducted by unidentified persons in Kaduna. His family subsequently reported the incident to the police, triggering widespread outrage on social media under the hashtag #FreeDadiyata.
Human rights advocates and civil society organisations have repeatedly called for an independent investigation into his disappearance, while supporters have continued to demand accountability and clarity over his whereabouts.
Despite intermittent official statements over the years, Dadiyata’s fate remains unresolved, making his case one of the most high-profile unresolved disappearance cases linked to political activism in Nigeria.
El-Rufai’s latest remarks are likely to reignite debate around the circumstances of Dadiyata’s disappearance and the long-standing calls for a transparent investigation.
