The family lawyer of Walida Abdulhadi, the Jigawa girl allegedly abducted by a DSS officer, has accused the Minister of Women Affairs and the DSS of distorting facts in the case.

Arewa PUNCH had reported that after months of silence, public outcry, and intervention by the Jigawa State Government, the DSS finally released Walida Abdulhadi, the 16-year-old girl allegedly abducted and abused by a DSS officer, to Governor Namadi on Wednesday night, following a court order secured by her family’s law firm.

Earlier, the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman Ibrahim, had stated at a press conference in Abuja last Thursday that Walida’s age had been verified by the National Population Commission, claiming she is 22 years old as at the time she was declared missing.

The minister said “verification of Walida’s birth records by the national population commission indicates that she is not a minor.

“Let me reaffirm that Walida’s age has been officially verified by the National Population Commission. She is 22 years old. By the provisions of the Child Rights Act and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a child is defined as anyone under 18 years,” she said.

She also dismissed claims that Walida was abducted, noting that the teenager’s “continued stay in the DSS custody has been voluntary, following credible threats to her life.”

The minister said the federal government is a signatory to several international laws and conventions protecting the life and rights of citizens, including women and children.

She stated that her ministry was aware of the threats to Walidi’s life, noting that “her safety remains the overriding priority in all decisions concerning her”.

The Deputy Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications at the DSS National Headquarters in Abuja, Favour Dozie, while confirming the development, stated that the girl was transferred to the Jigawa State Government around 5:45 pm on February 26, 2026.

Dozie said in a statement that “the girl was received by Umar Namadi, the Jigawa governor, and other top officials, noting that her release followed completion of findings by the joint investigation committee set up to probe her alleged disappearance from her parents.”

He assured that, “The agency would soon conclude the legal process surrounding the girl’s alleged abduction.”

However, Barrister Adamu dismissed this claim as “unfortunate and incorrect,” stating that Walida was born in 2008 and her parents got married in 2007.

The attorney-at-law made the accusation in an exclusive interview with Arewa PUNCH Correspondent on Saturday while countering the minister’s claim and the DSS’ authority.

The family lawyer of Walida Abdulhadi accused the Minister of Women Affairs and the DSS of distorting facts in the case of the abducted Jigawa girl.

“We’re equally aware of the campaign and the erroneous news being circulated round the national dailies and the NTA issued by the Minister of Women Affairs that they have verified the age of the victim (Walida) to be 22 years as at the time she was abducted which was very very unfortunate and incorrect,” Barrister Adamu said.

The lawyer clarified that Walida was born in 2008 and her parents got married in 2007, adding that the minister’s statement is “tantamount to bastardisation of Walida “ the lawyer countered.

He added, “We don’t know whether the minister wanted to bastardise Walida?” he queried further.

Barrister Adamu also questioned the minister’s claim, saying, “So we’re wondering, where did the minister get the 22 years age figure? Even as of now, if you do the calculation that 2007 minus 2026, it will give you 18 years.”

He insisted that Walida is currently 18 years old, saying, “Even today, now Walida is 18 years old, talk less of that erroneous news of her being 22 years at the time of her abduction.”

As a result, the lawyer accused the minister of diluting facts, saying, “We’ve been wondering where did the minister get that unverified years and information from? I suspect that they keep diluting facts. They are trying to shy away from the simple truth that Walida was abducted when she was of the tender age of 16 years.”

Adamu revealed that he had visited Walida’s school and obtained her records, thus, pointing out, “I personally went to her school, her records are there everything is there, why didn’t they go to where the girl is schooling to obtain the record.”

Speaking on Walida’s abduction, the lawyer highlighted, “I have everything handy. Walida was abducted alongside six others, as stated by Ifeanyi himself (suspect) when he told Walida’s uncle as the time they were having a heated argument.”

According to the family’s lawyer, the suspect confessed to abducting Walida and six others, saying, “He (suspect) was telling the Walida’s uncle that he did Walida a favour by even picking her. She would have been dead by now. That was his statement.”

Adamu equally lamposted the fact that the suspect (Ifeanyi) said he liked Walida due to her “partial exposure,” saying, “Walida was abducted alongside six others, making them seven. He (suspect) confessed that he liked Walida because of her partial exposure, so that was why he picked her.”

Furthermore, Adamu revealed that the suspect (Ifeanyi) had stated that a friend of his took charge of the remaining six girls and took them to Enugu, saying,

“Ifeanyi stated that a friend of his is the one who has taken charge of the remaining girls and he took them down to Enugu.”

Thus, the family’s lawyer demanded that the suspect be brought to Jigawa State and handed over to the police for investigation, stressing, “We’re saying that investigations should be conducted into this matter. Let this man face the full wrath of the law. Let him tell the world who the remaining six members are and the person behind the abduction?

“What is his own role, and what’s the role of that person?”

He maintained that it’s not the first time young girls were going missing from the North, insisting, “It’s not today or yesterday or day before yesterday that that children particularly young girls of tender ages mischievous get missing from the North and this is not the first time.”

He accused the DSS of changing their narration, saying, “Of course, I’m suspecting the DSS. The first time when they were making dangerous narration that Walida was even an Igbo girl, her mother was an Igbo woman, and she’s an Igbo girl. So, when we countered them (DSS), they changed the narration that Walida was not abducted by their officer (Ifeanyi). She mysteriously found herself and her way to him.”

The lawyer emphasised that the suspect had made the same statement to Walida’s uncle, saying, “And then the officer (Ifeanyi) before anything else, he narrated this exact narration to Walida’s uncle and Walida’s uncle is still alive, healthy and hearty and we’re always ready to present the facts, counter them (DSS) and whatever they have we’re ready for them. Let them release the suspect and let them obey the order of the court.”

Barrister Adamu urged the authorities to obey the court order, maintaining, “Our only concern is let the order of the court be obeyed, allow this man to come and face the investigation. What’s so fearful about the investigation. I don’t know why this very disturbing narration. What’s the big deal in investigation if you know you’re truthful?”

When asked if he’s facing any form of threats, the lawyer replied, “No. No, one will intimidate me. I can’t be intimidated. That is one thing that’s very, very clear. I even told them (DSS) that no one can intimidate me.”

The attorney-at-law added that the DSS is ready for compromise, saying, “No. No, no, the only thing was that they (DSS) are ready for compromise, and I said to compromise on a criminal case of this nature? we don’t compromise. We do things according to the law.”

Moreover, Barrister Adamu expressed frustration that young girls are going missing from the North, saying, “This is not a case that can be swept under the carpet. Let justice be done. Let us know those who are behind the syndicate. The who and who, who are the ones responsible for the mysterious disappearance of ladies and young girls from this part of the country.”

Adamu, who also added a new twist to the entire scenario questioned why the focus is on Hausa/Fulani, pointing out, “And we wanted to know why is it that all the time these young boys and girls are missing either from Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Yobe, Borno and parts of Plateau states. Why is it not happening in Benue, Kwara, Kogi, and why is the focus on Hausa/Fulani?”

He escalated that the situation is deteriorating, further remarking, “Let them come and explain themselves, let them come and tell the world how to manage the situation has deteriorated to this and the most unfortunate part of it is that the hand in this now is the security personnel and the worst part of it is that his agency is helpful on protecting him (suspect), so it’s annoying, disturbing and unfortunate and we’ll not relent until justice is done.”

Commenting further on Walida’s release, Barrister Adamu lauded, “This is a very memorable day and historical one, that Walida Abdulhadi has secured her freedom. We thank Governor Namadi for the quick and timely response he gave and the decisive actions he has taken by grabbing the bull by the horns, travelling down to Abuja to ensure the release of his citizen.”

However, he maintained that the job was not done, saying, “However, the job did not stop there. We’re still calling on the governor to keep up the good work that he has started by further ensuring the compliance of the court order by bringing the suspect down to Jigawa state, handing him over to the police and conduct discrete investigation into the this matter.”

Barrister Adamu vowed to continue fighting for justice, insisting, “We’ll not relent until justice is done.”

Despite her release, the suspected officer, Ifeanyi Onyewuenyi, remains at large, prompting continued outrage and demands for justice, as the court had directed his production before the Jigawa State Commissioner of Police.

Our correspondent reports that Walida’s case has continued to spark widespread concerns and calls for action from and within Jigawa State. (PUNCH)

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