KANO, NIGERIA — The national leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has formally commended the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, for ordering a “long-overdue” comprehensive investigation into the 2019 disappearance of Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata.
In a statement released on Sunday, the former Kano State Governor reacted to the explosive allegations made by Musa Muhammad Kamarawa, a former aide to ex-Zamfara Governor Bello Matawalle. Kamarawa had alleged in a petition that senior police officers admitted to the extrajudicial killing of the social media critic in his presence at a facility in Kaduna.
A Call for Vigilance
While welcoming the IGP’s directive to the Police Monitoring Unit, Kwankwaso urged the authorities to ensure the integrity of the probe by keeping a close watch on the individuals named in the petition.
“I urge the police authorities to place the named individuals under close surveillance to prevent any interference with the process,” Kwankwaso stated. The petition specifically identified two senior officers, CSP Hussaini Gimba and CSP Hassan Gimba, accusing them of involvement in the disappearance and subsequent cover-up.
Justice and Compensation
The former Minister of Defence noted that since Dadiyata’s abduction on August 1, 2019, his associates have consistently prayed for a breakthrough. He emphasized that the government must prepare to make amends for the years of silence and pain.
“I call on the government to ensure that, upon conclusion of the case, Abubakar Dadiyata—if still alive—and his family receive adequate compensation for the immense trauma and suffering they have endured,” he added.
Commending Advocacy
Kwankwaso reserved special praise for the legal and public efforts that brought the case back into the spotlight. He lauded the resilience of the general public and specifically thanked Kano-based human rights lawyer, Barrister Abba Hikima Fagge, for his “pivotal role” in filing the petition that prompted the IGP’s intervention.
The Case So Far
Abubakar Idris, a lecturer and vocal critic of the government, was snatched from his Barnawa residence in Kaduna nearly seven years ago. Despite several court orders and campaigns by Amnesty International, no security agency had claimed responsibility for his whereabouts until Kamarawa’s recent testimony.
The IGP’s order for a fresh investigation has been described by observers as a critical test for the current police leadership in its commitment to transparency and the rule of law.
