Former Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, has dismissed allegations by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai linking him to the disappearance of social media commentator Abubakar Idris, widely known as Dadiyata.
In a statement issued by his former Commissioner for Information, Muhammad Garba, Ganduje described the claim as baseless and an attempt to deflect attention from an incident that took place in Kaduna State.
El-Rufai had earlier alleged during a television interview that Dadiyata was abducted by police officers who allegedly came from Kano while Ganduje was serving as governor. He cited a claim by a police officer who reportedly said operatives were sent from Kano to carry out the abduction.
El-Rufai also argued that Dadiyata was not critical of his Kaduna administration but was known for criticising Ganduje’s government, suggesting the matter was not directly connected to Kaduna authorities despite the abduction occurring there.
Dadiyata, a lecturer at the Federal University Dutsin-Ma, was abducted on August 2, 2019, by unidentified gunmen outside his home in Barnawa, Kaduna State. At the time, he was 34 years old and active on social media, where he was known for his political commentary and support for former Kano governor Rabiu Kwankwaso.
His disappearance sparked widespread concern and campaigns demanding answers. Family members and rights groups filed legal actions seeking to compel security agencies to locate him.
In 2020, a Federal High Court in Kaduna ordered the State Security Service and other agencies to produce Dadiyata in court. However, the agencies denied having him in their custody.
More than six years later, his whereabouts remain unknown, and the case continues to generate controversy and public interest.
