Court Orders DSS to Release Abducted Jigawa Teenager

On Tuesday, Justice Hassan Dikko delivered a judgment ordering the Department of State Services (DSS) to unconditionally release 16-year-old Walida, who was allegedly abducted from Hadejia Local Government Area in Jigawa State. The court found that Walida was forcibly converted to Christianity and later gave birth to a baby girl.

The ruling came after public pressure condemned the DSS's handling of the case. Justice Dikko directed the DSS to hand over the suspect, Onyewuenyi, to the police for a full investigation, dismissing the DSS's previous claims of conducting an internal investigation.

The judge characterized the DSS's conduct as an attempt to shield its operative from accountability. Kabiru Adamu, counsel for Walida's family, described the judgment as a victory for the rule of law and public confidence in the judiciary.

The court also ordered that the suspect be transferred to a magistrate's court in Hadejia for further proceedings.