The family of the girl abducted in Hadejia Local Government Area of Jigawa State, Walida Abdulhadi, has asked a Federal High Court in Dutse to order her release to her parents.

The family also asked the court to order the Department of State Security (DSS) to stop the investigation of its officer, Ifeanyi Onyewuenyi, who was alleged to have abducted Walida, to allow the police to take over the matter and conduct a discreet investigation into it.

During the court session, the plaintiff ’s counsel and lawyer to Walida’s family, Kabir Adamu, told the court that he was prepared to proceed with the case and move the application requesting the immediate release of the victim and her reunification with her family.

The plaintiff is also asking the court to order the DSS to transfer the suspect, Ifeanyi, to the Jigawa State Commissioner of Police for further investigation.

But after listening to submissions from both sides, Justice Hassan Dikko adjourned the matter to March 26, 2026 to hear preliminary objections and other pending applications.

Justice Hassan granted the adjournment after counsel to the defence, Abdulmalik Sani, requested additional time to file a counter-affidavit in response to the application submitted by the plaintiff, citing the need to gather more information.

Speaking to journalists after the proceedings, Adamu explained that the legal action was initiated to seek justice for the victim.

He said the legal team was requesting the court to ensure Walida’s unconditional release and reunion with her family, and compel the DSS to hand over the suspect to the police for a proper investigation.

Adamu said the DSS should not be allowed to investigate the matter because it was directly involved in the case.

According to him, allowing the agency to handle the investigation would amount to being “a judge in its own case”.

He added that the respondents requested more time to organise their records and prepare their counter affidavit.

Walida was allegedly abducted in 2023 from Hadejia Local Government Area of Jigawa State by one Mariam, who later subjected her to sexual exploitation before she fled.

She later found herself in Abuja and thereafter moved in with an operative of the DSS, Onyewuenyi.

She gave birth to a baby girl in November 2025.

In December 2025, her father received a call from Ifeanyi, the DSS operative, who informed him that she was with him.

On January 25, the DSS released Walida to the Jigawa State Government following sustained advocacy by groups in the North who alleged the DSS was planning to cover up the case since it involved its operative.

There has been a controversy over Walida’s age. While the family claimed she was 16 when she was abducted and currently 18 years old, the DSS claimed she was 20 when abducted and currently 22 years.

The DSS cited its claim on a document from the National Population (NPC) issued on 21 July 2010 with entry number 2265, that listed her date of birth as February 7, 2004.

But another NPC document from the family dated December 31, 2025 said she was born on 3 November 2008.

Yunusa Kani, the immediate younger brother to Walida’s mother, confirmed that his sister married Abdulhadi in 2007 and gave birth to Walida in 2008.

On her part, 14-year-old Fatima Abdulhadi said she is Walida’s younger sister and their mother gave birth to three children.

“Walida was 16 then, her younger brother was 14, and I was 12 when she was abducted. Now I am 14. We are happy that she is finally back and we look forward to meeting her. I will personally take care of her new baby,” Fatima said.

Walida’s documents obtained by our reporter however showed discrepancies on her date of birth. While her primary certificate reads 2004, implying that she is 22, her [NPC] birth certificate however reads 2008, meaning she is 18.

But, her lawyer and parents insisted that the date on her certificate was wrongly written when it was issued, hence, only the date on her birth certificate is correct and she is 18.

Walida’s stepmother, Fatima Ibrahim, described her as quiet and obedient, insisting that the story that she left home to meet Ifeanyi was false.

“She was abducted and has since then gone missing. But now that she is back, we will welcome her, even though her mother died due to depression aft er losing her,” she added.

Walida’s father, Abdulhadi Ibrahim, had narrated how his daughter was abducted and how he later discovered her whereabouts.

“I was told that she was among seven girls taken, all from Jigawa. The DSS officer then picked Walida after developing interest in her. He was even bragging that he was doing her a favour by choosing her, saying she could have been killed if taken to Enugu with the others,” Ibrahim said.

The Jigawa State Government has promised to fully sponsor Walida’s education once she reunites with her family.

Meanwhile, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITADMFN) said Walida’s case represents extremely serious violations of Nigerian law and international human rights standards, including potential offences relating to abduction, unlawful detention, sexual exploitation of a minor, forced sexual encounters and abuse of public office.

In a press statement CITAD’s Executive Director, Y. Z. Ya’u, called for her immediate reunification with her family with a thorough, open, and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding her disappearance, alleged detention, and reported abuse.

“Immediate prosecution of the alleged perpetrator, Ifeanyi Onyewuenyi, for abduction and illegal detention of Walida, turning her into a sex slave without the consent of her parents and a full inquiry into how a minor could allegedly be held within a federal security facility without detection or intervention,” he said. (Daily Trust)

Update news