Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has publicly accused former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai and former Kano State governor Abdullahi Ganduje of having prior knowledge of what happened to missing activist Dadiyata Samuel, who was abducted in 2019 and has not been seen since.
Sowore alleged that El-Rufai “knew what happened to Dadiyata” and accused both former governors of keeping silent for years despite what he described as clear knowledge of the circumstances surrounding the abduction. He claimed the operation was a coordinated action involving the Nigeria Police Force, allegedly ordered by Ganduje while both men were influential figures within the then-ruling All Progressives Congress.
According to Sowore, the abduction was not a random act but a politically motivated operation. He asserted that those involved “didn’t just know who took Dadiyata; they likely knew why, where, and what was done to him afterwards.” Sowore further alleged that prolonged silence and denial by key actors have deepened public suspicion about Dadiyata’s fate.
In a chilling claim, Sowore suggested that the possibility Dadiyata was killed and secretly buried cannot be ruled out, though no official investigation has confirmed this. He emphasized that such allegations underscore the need for an independent and transparent probe.
Recounting his own experience, Sowore said he was abducted on the same night in 2019 from a Lagos hotel by operatives of the Department of State Services, allegedly acting on orders from powerful figures within the administration of then-President Muhammadu Buhari. He named senior officials, including the late chief of staff Abba Kyari, former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami, and former CBN governor Godwin Emefiele, as part of what he described as a cabal behind his detention, an allegation they have previously denied.
Sowore said his survival was due to the presence of CCTV evidence at the hotel, which he believes prevented his disappearance. He insisted that Nigeria must not “move on” without full accountability for Dadiyata’s case, renewing calls for answers under the hashtag #WhereIsDadiyata.
Authorities have yet to respond to the latest allegations, and no official findings have been released on Dadiyata’s whereabouts more than five years after his disappearance.
Post a Comment