Human rights activist and former AAC presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has called on ex-Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to reveal the whereabouts of missing journalist and government critic, Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata.
During a live interview on Arise News TV on Tuesday night, Sowore directly confronted El-Rufai, accusing him of suddenly posing as an activist while failing to address pressing human rights issues from his tenure.
“I saw El-Rufai on your show yesterday. He has suddenly become an activist after ruling Kaduna for eight years. By the way, he needs to confess—where is Dadiyata?” Sowore asked.
Dadiyata was abducted from his home in Barnawa, Kaduna State, on August 1, 2019. Armed men stormed his residence around 1 a.m., dragging him away in his BMW. The journalist, known for his outspoken criticism of the Buhari administration and the ruling APC, has not been seen or heard from since. His mysterious disappearance remains one of Nigeria’s most controversial unresolved cases.
Nearly six years later, his family is still in agony, demanding answers that never come. His mother reportedly died from the heartbreak of losing her son, while his father, siblings, and friends continue to search for justice.
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Sowore’s challenge comes as El-Rufai shifts from being a loyal APC figure to a vocal critic of President Bola Tinubu’s administration. His sudden change of stance has sparked backlash, with many accusing him of attempting to rebrand himself after eight years of power.
“El-Rufai shouldn’t be allowed to parade himself as an activist without first addressing the questions surrounding his own tenure,” Sowore insisted. “He wielded enormous power in Kaduna at the time. He should come clean about what happened to Dadiyata.”
Despite widespread demands for justice, the Nigerian government has remained silent on the journalist’s disappearance. No arrests have been made, and no concrete efforts have been seen to investigate the case.
As El-Rufai attempts to reposition himself politically, the burning question remains: Where is Dadiyata? Until the truth comes out, his abduction will continue to haunt Nigeria’s political and human rights landscape.
