Court Orders DSS to Release Jigawa Teen and Suspect

On March 26, 2023, a Federal High Court sitting in Jigawa State ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to release 16-year-old Walida Abdulhadi unconditionally and to surrender operative Ifeanyi Onyewuenyi for police investigation. Abdulhadi, a resident of Hadejia Local Government Area, was allegedly abducted and sexually abused by Onyewuenyi, resulting in her giving birth to a baby girl while in custody.

The case gained significant public attention both within and outside Jigawa State. Justice Hassan Dikko condemned the DSS for allegedly shielding its officer accused of committing heinous acts and stated that the DSS lacked the legal power to investigate its own officers under the National Security Agency Act.

The court's ruling was welcomed by Abdulhadi's family lawyer, Kabiru Adamu, who emphasized the importance of judicial integrity and the need for a swift and transparent police investigation into the matter.