Hadejia Residents Protest, Demand Justice for Walida Abdulhadi

Residents of Hadejia Local Government Area in Jigawa State held a protest on Tuesday, demanding justice for Walida Abdulhadi over allegations that she was abducted by a DSS officer identified as Ifeanyi.

The demonstrators, drawn from community groups, legal teams, women’s organisations and civil society bodies, marched through the town and submitted a petition at the palace of the Emir of Hadejia.

Leaders of the protest said the action was triggered by concerns that the suspect could be released without full legal accountability. They said the community wanted clear assurances that the case would proceed according to the law.

Dr Hussaini Shehu, Chairman of the Hadejia Ina Mafita Initiative, said the protest was organised to register public concern and to push institutions to act decisively. He said the group would continue to press for justice and insisted that no individual should be treated as above the law.

At the Emir’s palace, representatives of the council received the petition. Speaking on behalf of the Emir of Hadejia, Alhaji Dr Adamu Abubakar Maje, CON, the Secretary of the Emirate Council, Abubakar Sulaiman, told residents that the palace remained committed to ensuring that proper steps are taken on the matter.

Walida’s lawyer, Barrister Kabiru Adamu, said the legal team would intensify its efforts to ensure that the officer accused in the case is held responsible if found culpable. He said pursuing the matter thoroughly would also serve as a warning in similar cases.

The lawyer also challenged recent public statements about Walida’s age. He said reports in some national newspapers and an NTA broadcast attributed to the Minister of Women Affairs claimed she was 22 years old at the time of the alleged abduction.

Adamu said that claim was inaccurate. He said Walida was born in 2008, adding that her parents married in 2007. Based on that timeline, he said she is currently 18 and that describing her as 22 at the time of the incident misrepresents the facts of the case.

According to him, the disagreement over age is not a minor detail but an important element that affects how the public understands the incident and the legal context around it.

Residents at the protest said they expect transparent handling of the case and regular updates from authorities. They also called on state institutions to avoid conflicting public claims and to ensure that official communication reflects verified records.

For the organisers, the march was both a demand for justice in Walida’s case and a broader statement that communities in Jigawa will continue to seek accountability through lawful civic action.