El-Rufai Claims Ignorance of Dadiyata's Abduction Case

In a recent interview, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai claimed he was unaware of Dadiyata's existence until the latter's abduction on August 2, 2019, from his home in Kaduna by masked men. Dadiyata, a lecturer in English Linguistics at the Federal University Dutsinma in Katsina State, was taken away in his own car, which was shortly returned without him.

Investigations into the case have yielded no conclusions, and there has been no formal explanation from authorities. Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have condemned the federal government's silence and lack of action regarding Dadiyata's case.

Isa Sanusi, the country director of Amnesty International Nigeria, suggested that the circumstances surrounding Dadiyata's abduction indicate a targeted operation typical of authoritarian regimes. El-Rufai further claimed that Dadiyata was not a critic of the Kaduna State government but had issues with the Kano State government, particularly with Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.

He stated that the police were allegedly involved in the abduction, with confessions from a policeman indicating that someone from Kano orchestrated the kidnapping.