By James
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The Department of State Services (DSS) on Wednesday night released 18-year-old Walida Abdulhadi, a girl at the center of a protracted abduction and custody controversy, to the Governor of Jigawa State, Umar Namadi, at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
Walida, who reportedly went missing in 2023 at the age of 16, was formally handed over by the Director-General of the DSS, Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, in the presence of senior security officials, legal representatives, civil society groups, and members of the media.
Governor Namadi was accompanied by top Jigawa State officials, including the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Haruna Aliyu; Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Bello Abdulkadir Fanini; Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Hadiza Abdulwahab; and Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Nura Ibrahim Doka.
Also present were representatives of the Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), led by Deputy National Legal Adviser Barrister Haroun Muhammad, as well as officials of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) and other civil society organisations.
Notably absent, however, were Walida’s parents. The handover process reportedly lasted until about 10:40 p.m.
According to her father, Walida was abducted in 2023 from Hadejia Local Government Area of Jigawa State by a woman identified as Mariam. The family alleges that she was subjected to sexual exploitation before the suspect fled.
Walida later resurfaced in Abuja, where she reportedly began living with a DSS operative, Ifeanyi Onyewuenyi. In November 2025, she gave birth to a baby girl said to have been fathered by the officer.
Her whereabouts remained unclear to her family until December 2025, when Onyewuenyi allegedly contacted her father to inform him that she was with him.
Repeated attempts by relatives to retrieve her reportedly failed, prompting a petition to DSS headquarters and subsequent legal action in Jigawa State. A court in Jigawa ordered that Walida be released to her parents. However, the DSS filed a counter-motion, maintaining that investigations were ongoing.
Beyond the abduction claim, the case has been further complicated by allegations surrounding Walida’s religious conversion and disputes over her custody.
Speaking after the handover, Governor Namadi stressed that the matter would now be resolved through the courts.
“Our primary concern is that Walida was abducted,” the governor said. “All contentious issues will be tabled before a court of law for adjudication. It is a state matter and will be treated as such.”
He added that Walida would remain under the custody of the Jigawa State government pending the resolution of legal proceedings. Contrary to speculation, he clarified that taking custody of her does not automatically mean she would be returned immediately to Jigawa.
“She will remain in Abuja for now and will be provided with adequate security,” he stated.
The governor also disclosed that the baby girl delivered in November would equally remain under the protective custody of the Jigawa State government.
The DSS confirmed that Ifeanyi Onyewuenyi remains in its custody and assured the public that due process would be followed.
“He will face the consequences if found culpable,” the Director-General said. “We have rules guiding our operations, and no one is above them.”
The case has sparked intense public debate over issues of child protection, abuse of authority, religious sensitivity, and institutional accountability. With court proceedings expected to clarify the legal and custodial questions, attention now turns to whether justice will be served — not only in resolving the abduction allegations but also in addressing concerns about the conduct of a security operative.
For now, Walida’s future rests in the hands of the courts and the Jigawa State government, as the controversy continues to unfold.
