The disappearance of Abubakar Idris, widely known as Dadiyata, has returned to national attention after Nigeria’s Department of State Services reopened its investigation into the 2019 incident.
Idris, a university lecturer at the Federal University Dutsinma in Katsina State, northern Nigeria, was reported missing in early August 2019 after armed men allegedly took him from his residence in Kaduna, a major city in northwestern Nigeria. Nearly seven years later, his location remains unknown.
Security sources confirmed that the Department of State Services has resumed inquiries into the case and is preparing to invite suspects for questioning.
The renewed probe follows recent public comments by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who denied any role in the disappearance. Speaking on Friday, February 14, 2026, he insisted that Idris was not a strong critic of the Kaduna State government but rather of the Kano State government.
“Dadiyata was not a fierce critic of the Kaduna State government. He was a fierce critic of the Kano State government.
“He is a Kwankwasiya guy; he lives in Kaduna and lectures at a university in Katsina State, but is a fierce critic not of Kaduna State. Go and review his timeline,” he said.
He added, “It was Ganduje that was his problem. I didn’t even know him. We only got the report of Dadiyata’s existence and the fact that he lives in Kaduna State after the family reported to the police that he was abducted as he was returning home in the evening.
“If anybody is to be asked about the disappearance of Dadiyata, it is the Kano State Government; it has nothing to do with the Kaduna State Government. We didn’t even know he existed.”
Former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje rejected that claim in a statement issued by his former Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs. He described the allegation as “reckless, unfounded, and a clear attempt to shift responsibility for an incident that occurred entirely within Kaduna State.”
He also stated, “Everyone in Kaduna knew the nature of the criticism he made and who it was directed at.”
Meanwhile, Dadiyata’s wife, Kadijah, has renewed her public appeal for answers. In a video interview shared by political commentator Reno Omokri on Thursday, February 19, 2026, she spoke about the emotional toll of the unresolved case.
“We pray that one day, he will come back,” she said.
“They should please do whatever they can to help us know his whereabouts, if he’s alive or not,” she added.
Kadijah also referred to a controversial social media post made in 2019 which criticised her husband. The post read, “Those same clowns who encouraged him when he was creating false stories and capitalising on lies that could endanger lives solely for political ends are the same individuals trending hashtags asking, ‘#WhereisDadiyata.’
“Dangerous lies in the public space have consequences. I felt bad about it. I can’t even explain,” she said.
Security sources further disclosed that El-Rufai’s passport was recently seized at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja while investigations continue. According to the source, the agency has reopened not only the Dadiyata case but also other missing persons cases from that period.
The case remains one of Nigeria’s most debated unresolved disappearances and continues to raise concerns about accountability and protection for critics.