LEGAL PRACTITIONER SEEKS CLARIFICATION FROM MINISTER, DSS OVER JIGAWA GIRL’S AGE
Read Time:2 Minute, 41 Second
By: Fasasi Hammad
The family lawyer of Walida Abdulhadi has accused the Minister of Women Affairs and the Department of State Services (DSS) of misrepresenting facts surrounding the alleged abduction of the Jigawa teenager.
The media recalls that after months of public concern, silence, and intervention by the Jigawa State Government, Walida — said to be 16 at the time of her alleged abduction — was released to Governor Umar Namadi on Wednesday night following a court order obtained by her family.
At a press conference in Abuja last Thursday, the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman Ibrahim, stated that Walida’s age had been verified by the National Population Commission, insisting she was 22 years old when she was declared missing. According to the minister, official birth records indicated that Walida was not a minor, noting that under the Child Rights Act and the Constitution, a child is defined as anyone below 18 years.
The minister also dismissed claims of abduction, asserting that Walida’s continued stay in DSS custody had been voluntary due to credible threats to her life. She maintained that her safety remained the government’s priority and emphasized Nigeria’s commitment to international conventions protecting women and children.
Similarly, DSS spokesperson Favour Dozie confirmed that Walida was transferred to the Jigawa State Government at about 5:45 pm on February 26, 2026, stating that her release followed the conclusion of findings by a joint investigative committee probing her alleged disappearance.
However, Walida’s lawyer, Barrister Kabiru Adamu, described the minister’s claims as “unfortunate and incorrect.” In an exclusive interview, he insisted that Walida was born in 2008 and that her parents were married in 2007, arguing that the claim she was 22 at the time of the incident was inaccurate.
Adamu said he personally visited Walida’s school to obtain her academic records, questioning why authorities failed to consult such documentation. He alleged that Walida was abducted alongside six other girls and claimed the suspect had admitted this during a confrontation with her uncle.
According to the lawyer, the suspect allegedly confessed to selecting Walida due to what he described as “partial exposure,” while a friend was said to have taken the remaining six girls to Enugu. Adamu demanded that the suspect be brought to Jigawa State and handed over to the police in compliance with the court order.
He further accused the DSS of altering its narrative, claiming that earlier statements suggested Walida was Igbo before that account was changed. Adamu maintained that the family is prepared to challenge any contrary claims and insisted that the court’s directive be fully enforced.
The lawyer also rejected any suggestion of compromise, stating that criminal matters of such gravity must be pursued strictly within the bounds of the law.
While welcoming Walida’s release and commending Governor Namadi’s intervention, Adamu stressed that justice would only be served when the suspect is produced and a thorough investigation conducted. He vowed that the family would continue to pursue the matter until accountability is achieved.
Despite Walida’s release, the suspected officer, Ifeanyi Onyewuenyi, has yet to be produced as directed by the court, fueling ongoing public concern and calls for justice across Jigawa State.
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