Justice For Walida: Jigawa Women Hit The Streets With Massive Protest.

Justice For Walida: Jigawa Women Hit The Streets With Massive Protest.

On tuesday, the 3rd of march, 2026, the people of Hadejia Local Government Area of Jigawa State staged a protest demanding justice for Walida Abdulhadi.

Walida Abdulhadi was allegedly abducted by Ifeanyi Onyewuenyi, a Department of State Services (DSS) officer. 

The protesters, after marching through parts of the town now head to the palace of the Emir of Hadejia to submitted a formal petition over the matter. They were made up of lawyers, civil society organisations, and women’s groups.

Dr. Hussaini Shehu,  the Chairman of the Hadejia Ina Mafita Initiative, who led the protest claim the demonstration was organised to express the community’s infuriation over what they addressed as an alleged plan to release the suspect.

He said until the matter is fully addressed in accordance with the law they group would never sieze to push for justice.

“Shehu said No one is above the law, so our determination is to ensure that the alleged offender is brought to justice. 

The Secretary of the Hadejia Emirate Council, Abubakar Sulaiman who respond on behalf of the Emir, Alhaji Dr. Adamu Abubakar Maje, CON, assured the protesters that the palace would make sure they follow the issue to ensure that appropriate action is taken.

According to Barrister Kabiru Adamu, who is Walida’s lawyer, holding the suspect accountable would serve as a deterrent to others. He also said during the protest that the legal team would intensify efforts to ensure that the DSS officer involved faces the consequences of his alleged actions.

He also accused the Minister of Women Affairs and the DSS of allegedly distorting facts surrounding the case.

“We are aware of a misleading report circulated in some national newspapers and aired on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), attributed to the Minister of Women Affairs, claiming that the victim, Walida, was 22 years old at the time of her abduction,” he said.

Adamu argues that that Walida who was born a year after her parents were married in 2007 cannot be 22 years of age, so the claim was inaccurate. Walida is currently 18 years old and it is incorrect to assume that she was 22 at the time the alleged abduction occurred.

He argued that the statement by the minister shows a misrepresentation of Walida’s identity and background.

On February 25, 2025 Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State took custody of Walida Abdulhadi Ibrahim, who was in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

She was allegedly abducted from Hadejia Local Government Area of Jigawa State by one Mariam, who later subjected her to sexual exploitation before she fled.

She later found herself in Abuja and thereafter moved in with an operative of the Department of State Services (DSS), Ifeanyi Onyewuenyi.