By Abdullateef Bambgose
An Abuja based human rights Lawyer , Barrister Hamza N Dantani, has petition the Director General of the State Security Service, SSS over the alleged abduction, sexual abuse and unlawful custody of Walidal Abdullahi, in the DSS custody.
In a the petition addressed to the Director General , State Security Service , headquarters in Abuja titled
“URGENT HUMAN RIGHTS PETITION ON THE ALLEGED ABDUCTION, SEXUAL ABUSE, UNLAWFUL CUSTODY, AND MEDIA EXPLOITATION OF WALIDA, A MINOR FROM JIGAWA STATE”
The Constitutional lawyer stated that “as a Human Rights Activist, a Member of the Citizens’ Liberty Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association, and as a concerned citizen from the northern part of our country. I am compelled by conscience, law, and my professional obligation to raise grave concerns regarding the disturbing handling of the case of Walida, a minor abducted from Jigawa State.”
“I state without hesitation that I have never witnessed such a desperate, calculated, and coordinated attempt to cover up a case involving a minor as is presently unfolding in this matter.”
According to the Legal expert “Walida was abducted in 2023 while she was a Senior Secondary School II (SS 2) student. Her father has repeatedly spoken to the media, stating clearly that his daughter was a minor at the time of abduction and remains a minor to date. These facts have never been controverted with credible evidence.”
“However, it is shocking that Daily Trust recently published an interview purportedly granted by Walida. Any lawyer or discerning reader would immediately observe that the interview bears the unmistakable imprint of a script carefully prepared by persons well-versed in the law, with the clear objective of insulating a suspect from criminal responsibility”
“The interview attempts to peg Walida’s age at 22 years artificially. It constructs a narrative suggesting that even if she was abducted earlier as a minor, she only encountered the DSS operative now suspected in this matter, one Ifeanyi, after attaining the age of 18 in 2024.”
“According to this contrived version, she met him only after leaving the house of her “original abductors.”
“To further muddy the waters, the script they introduces a so-called Mariam, alleged to have abducted Walida, taken her to a house in Hadeja, and repeatedly sexually molested her. She was scripted to claim she stayed with Mariam until 2024, after which she was taken to Abuja.”
“In an apparent attempt to neutralize the issue of forceful religious conversion, she was made to say that the Igbo name “Chinasa” was given to her by Mariam, not by the suspect or his sister, and that she converted to Christianity of her own volition. With due respect, this narrative is legally incoherent and factually insulting”
“Wali was in SS 2 in 2023. The overwhelming majority of SS 2 students in Nigeria are aged 13-15. From 2023 to 2025 is barely two years. Even if one were to assume, most generously, that she was 15 years old in 2023, she could only be 17 years old in 2025.”
“More damning is the uncontested fact that Walida gave birth to a baby girl in 2025, allegedly fathered by the detained DSS operative, Ifeanyi. This incontrovertibly establishes that sexual intercourse occurred at least nine months earlier, at a time when Walida was still a minor. No amount of legal gymnastics, scripted interviews, or intervening stories of a “faceless Mariam” can erase this reality.”
He noted that “The implication is clear: sexual intercourse with a minor occurred, without marriage, without parental consent, and below the statutory age of consent. This offence is absolute and does not depend on consent, religion, or subsequent explanations”
“Even more troubling is that the interview itself reveals powerful forces rallying behind the suspect. If this case is left for the distraught father to pursue alone, justice may never see the light of day.
Sir, I must therefore ask the following unavoidable questions”
- On what legal basis did the DSS refuse to release Walida to her parents, her lawful guardians?
- Under whose authority was a minor in DSS custody allowed to grant a media interview, thereby exposing her identity, privacy, and dignity?
- How can the DSS claim neutrality when the principal suspect is its own operative, thereby making the Service a judge in its own cause?
Nigeria has domesticated the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, defining a child as any person below 18 years and mandating protection against abuse, exploitation, and forced conversion.
More specifically, the Child Rights Act 2003 provides as follows:
- Section 1: In every action concerning a child, the best interest of the child shall be the primary consideration.
- Section 2(1): A child shall be given such protection and care as is necessary for the well-being of the child, taking into account the rights and duties of the parents or legal guardians.
- Section 6(2): Parents or legal guardians shall provide guidance and direction in the exercise of the child’s rights, having regard to the child’s best interest.
We are deeply disturbed because the DSS is not a legally recognized custodian of children, and no law grants it the power to withhold a minor from her parents.
Further: - Section 7(4) mandates that where custody or guardianship is in issue, the child’s right to be brought up in and practise her religion shall be a paramount consideration.
- Section 8(1) guarantees every child the right to privacy, family life, and protection from media exposure.
- Section 11 prohibits subjecting a child to physical, mental, emotional injury, sexual abuse, degrading treatment, or attacks on honour or reputation.
By retaining Walida in so-called “safe custody,” allowing media exposure, and presiding over a matter in which one of your officers is the prime suspect, the DSS has violated the letter and spirit of the Child Rights Act. An institution accused, directly or indirectly, cannot lawfully sit in judgment over its own case.
We therefore respectfully but firmly demand:
- The immediate release of Walida to her parents or lawful guardians;
- The transfer of the investigation to an independent authority.
- The intervention of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and relevant gender-protection agencies to secure the child’s welfare; and
- The Jigawa State Government should urgently assume responsibility for protecting its children and pursuing justice.
“Sir, this case is no longer just about Walida. It is a test of Nigeria’s commitment to the rule of law, child protection, and institutional accountability”
According to Dantani, Walida was abducted in 2023 while she was a Senior Secondary School II student and has been in SSS custody since then. He claims the SSS has refused to release Walida to her parents, despite her being a minor.
The lawyer questioned the legitimacy of a media interview purportedly granted by Walida, alleging it was a scripted attempt to cover up the alleged abuse. He emphasized that Walida’s age and circumstances make her a victim of sexual abuse and exploitation.
Dantani demanded the immediate release of Walida to her parents, transfer of the investigation to an independent authority, and intervention of relevant agencies to secure the child’s welfare.
The case has sparked outrage, with calls for the SSS to be held accountable for its handling of the situation. The Nigeria Police Force has yet to comment on the matter.
