Residents of Hadejia Local Government Area in Jigawa State on Tuesday staged a protest demanding justice for Walida Abdulhadi, a girl allegedly abducted by a Department of State Services (DSS) officer, Ifeanyi.
Leading the protest, Chairman of Hadejia Ina Mafita Initiative, Dr. Hussaini Shehu, said the demonstration was aimed at expressing residents’ dismay over what they described as a plan to free the suspect.
“Our protest today is to register our dismay over reports that the suspect may be released. We will remain steadfast to ensure that the alleged offender is brought to justice. No one is above the law,” Dr. Shehu said.
Members of the protest, including lawyers, women’s groups, and civil society organizations, marched to the palace of the Emir of Hadejia and submitted a formal petition.
Speaking on behalf of the Emir of Hadejia, Alhaji Dr. Adamu Abubakar Maje, CON, the Secretary of the Emirate Council, Abubakar Sulaiman, assured the community that the palace was committed to ensuring appropriate action was taken in the matter.
Also speaking, Walida’s lawyer, Barrister Kabiru Adamu, said efforts would be intensified to ensure that the DSS officer faced the consequences of his actions.
“We are aware of misleading reports circulated in some national newspapers and aired on the NTA, attributed to the Minister of Women Affairs, claiming that the victim, Walida, was 22 years old at the time of her abduction,” Barrister Adamu said.
He described the claim as “unfortunate and inaccurate,” noting that Walida was born in 2008, a year after her parents got married in 2007.
Barrister Adamu argued that the minister’s statement amounted to a misrepresentation of Walida’s identity and background.
He stressed that Walida is presently 18 years old and insisted that it was incorrect to state that she was 22 at the time of the incident.
