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From Jude Owuamanam, Jos
A coalition of terror victims in Kaduna State has called for accountability over alleged human rights abuses said to have been perpetrated under the eight-year administration of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
The victims made the demand in a statement signed on their behalf by a coalition of human rights defenders, including the former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Professor Chidi Anslem Odinkalu.
The coalition, comprising human rights defenders and victims’ families, is seeking justice for the victims and an end to impunity.
Other members of the coalition include Southern Kaduna Peoples Forum (SKIPFo); Atrocities Watch Africa (AWA); Community Development & Rights Advocacy Foundation; Resilient Aid and Dialogue Initiative; Audu Maikori, Esq; Gloria Ballason, Esq; Steven Kefas; Luka Binniyat; Midat Joseph; Segun Onibiyo; House of Justice; as well as Southern Kaduna Indigenous Peoples’ Organisations.
They cited cases of arbitrary abductions, persecution of critics and unlawful demolitions of homes, highlighting the abduction and murder of HRH Dr Maiwada Raphael Galadima, the Agwam Adara, and the disappearance of Abubakar Idris (Dadiyata), a lecturer and social media commentator.
The statement also condemned Bashir El-Rufai’s X post, perceived as gloating over Dadiyata’s abduction, and called for thorough investigations and prosecutions.
The coalition urged law enforcement agencies and human rights institutions to take action, offering testimonies and evidence to support enquiries.
“We speak today as representatives of countless individuals, families, and communities who endured eight years of profound hardship, terror, fear, and loss under the governorship of Nasir el-Rufai in Kaduna State (2015–2023).
“Our coalition includes citizens from all walks of life: community and business leaders, serving and retired public servants, traditional rulers, faith leaders, academics, journalists, lawyers, and other professionals.
“Among the many victims are high-profile cases that symbolise the era’s impunity:
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“HRH Dr Maiwada Raphael Galadima, the Agwam Adara (paramount ruler of the Adara Chiefdom), was abducted in October 2018 and brutally murdered despite ransom payment.
“His killing occurred amid efforts to restructure traditional institutions, including the controversial conversion of the chiefdom into an emirate structure, deepening ethnic and communal tensions. To date, the suspects arrested for the murder of Agwam Adara have yet to be successfully prosecuted, and their whereabouts cannot be ascertained.
“Abubakar Idris (Dadiyata), a lecturer at the Federal University Dutsenma and social media commentator critical of governance issues, was abducted from his residence in Barnawa, Kaduna, on August 2, 2019.
“He has remained missing, effectively disappeared for nearly seven years. August 2026 will mark the seventh anniversary of his abduction and trigger the statutory presumption of death under Nigerian law.
“Shortly after Dadiyata’s abduction, on December 23, 2019, at 10:16 hrs, Bashir el-Rufai, son of the then governor, posted a tweet widely perceived as gloating over the incident and dismissing calls for his safe return.
“During his tenure, Nasir el-Rufai presided over a pattern of indiscriminate actions: arbitrary abductions, persecution of critics, reprisal violence, unlawful demolitions of homes, mass dismissals of workers without due process, forced sackings by employers of perceived opponents, and the displacement of citizens into exile.
“These acts bypassed constitutional safeguards and Nigerian law, turning gubernatorial immunity into unchecked impunity.
“We are deeply troubled by recent attempts to reframe this history, portraying Nasir el-Rufai as a champion of due process and human rights, while survivors and families continue to seek truth and justice.
“On behalf of ourselves, and in solemn memory of those killed or disappeared who cannot speak, we have a moral and civic duty to bear witness. Our sole demand is accountability under the rule of law: thorough, independent investigations; prosecutions where evidence warrants; and closure for traumatised victims and families. By pursuing justice, we aim to prevent future suffering and uphold the dignity of all Nigerians.
“We stand ready to cooperate fully with all relevant law enforcement agencies, judicial bodies, and human rights institutions in Nigeria. We will provide testimonies, evidence, and any material assistance to support inquiries and ensure those responsible for crimes face due process,” the statement added.
