Jigawa Court Orders Arrest of DSS Officer Over Abduction, Rape
A Jigawa court has ordered the arrest of a Department of Security Service (DSS) officer over alleged abduction, rape, and forced religious conversion of a Muslim girl from Hadejia, Nigeria.
A Magistrate’s Court in Jigawa State has issued an arrest warrant for a Department of State Security Service (DSS) officer, Ifeanyi Onyewuenyi, over allegations of child abduction, rape, and forced religious conversion involving a Muslim girl from northern Nigeria.
The DSS official is accused of abducting Walida Abdulhadi from Hadejia Local Government Area of Jigawa State when she was a teenager. According to the prosecution, the victim was forcibly taken from her family, unlawfully detained for several years, and subjected to repeated sexual abuse. The alleged sexual assault resulted in pregnancy and the birth of a child.
Court documents further allege that Walida was forced to convert from Islam to Christianity while in captivity, raising concerns over violations of religious freedom, human rights abuses, and child protection failures in Nigeria.
Background: Disappearance of Jigawa Muslim Girl
The case reportedly began when Walida Abdulhadi was 16 years old. Her father told local media that the family searched for her for years across Jigawa State and neighbouring regions before eventually presuming she had died.
The prolonged disappearance of the teenage girl reportedly contributed to the untimely death of her mother, further deepening public outrage over the case.
The victim was recently found at the Abuja residence of the DSS officer. Another legal practitioner involved in the case, Barrister Hussaini, alleged that the suspect unlawfully held the girl for years, enforced her religious conversion, and was seeking her father’s consent to marry her.
Court Orders Arrest and Police Investigation
During court proceedings, counsel to the applicant, Kabiru Adamu, filed a motion seeking an arrest warrant against the DSS officer and calling for a comprehensive criminal investigation by the Jigawa State Police Command. The application was filed pursuant to Sections 125 and 102(5) of the Jigawa State Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL).
In his ruling, Magistrate Sadisu Musa granted the application and ordered the Nigerian police to immediately arrest the suspect and carry out a “discreet and thorough investigation” into the alleged crimes.
The court also ordered the Department of State Security Service (DSS) to release the victim immediately and facilitate her reunification with her family, in line with Nigerian child protection laws.
Petition to President Tinubu and DSS Leadership
Barrister Hussaini has formally petitioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the leadership of the State Security Service, urging transparency, accountability, and justice in the handling of the case. He emphasised the need for an independent investigation into the alleged human rights violations and abuse of power by a Nigerian security operative.
As of Friday morning, repeated attempts to obtain an official response from the DSS regarding the court order, arrest warrant, and allegations against its officer were unsuccessful.
Umm E Habiba
Punjab, Pakistan.
