Walida Freed, DSS Operative Faces Abduction Probe

Governor Namadi vows justice and state protection for 18-year-old and her child; agency says suspect remains in custody and inter-agency investigation continues

By Abdullahi Yusuf

The Department of State Services on Wednesday handed over an 18-year-old Jigawa State native who was allegedly abducted and impregnated by a serving operative to Gov. Umar Namadi, marking a new phase in a case that has drawn national attention and stirred religious and human rights concerns.

The handover took place late Wednesday at the DSS headquarters in Abuja, where Walida Abdulhadi Ibrahim and her infant daughter were formally transferred to the custody of the Jigawa State government. The meeting lasted until about 10:40 p.m., according to officials present.

Namadi, speaking after receiving the teenager, described her as “a daughter of Jigawa State” and said the government would ensure her safety and recovery while legal proceedings unfold.

“Our concern is that Walida had been abducted,” the governor said. “It is a state matter and will be treated as such.”

He said Walida would remain in Abuja for now under state supervision and security protection, pending the resolution of legal and investigative processes. He added that taking custody of her “does not automatically mean that she will be taken back to Jigawa.”

The girl’s parents were not present at the handover.

DSS Director-General Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi said the agency had kept the teenager in protective custody since January 2026, when she was recovered from the operative identified as Ifeanyi Onyewuenyi.

“It is unfortunate that people don’t learn from history in Nigeria. Our major concern is about the safety and the future of Walida,” Ajayi said. “She is a young woman who has the right to live, and we have the responsibility to ensure she is safe while the matter is being investigated.”

Ajayi said the suspect remains in DSS custody and would face disciplinary and legal consequences if found culpable.

“He will face the music when found wanting. We have rules guiding our operations,” he said.

The DSS chief described the case as an inter-agency investigation involving the police, Civil Defence, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA). He said the Nigerian Medical Association had also been invited to assess the girl’s mental health.

Ajayi said he invited the Jigawa governor to the headquarters “which is the right thing to do,” and included civil society and religious representatives to ensure transparency.

Walida was reported missing in November 2023 from Hadejia in Jigawa State when she was 16. Her disappearance triggered an extensive search by family members. Relatives have said the prolonged uncertainty contributed to the psychological trauma of her mother, who later died.

The case resurfaced on Jan. 1, 2026, when her father, Abdulhadi Ibrahim, said he received a phone call from Onyewuenyi, who allegedly told him the girl was with him in Abuja and had given birth. The officer reportedly asked the father to come to Abuja for discussions and indicated he was prepared to marry her.

Unable to travel, the father sent a representative who later alleged that the teenager was living with the officer at a DSS facility in Abuja. Claims also emerged that she had been converted from Islam to Christianity, intensifying public debate and drawing in religious groups.

Lawyers petitioned the DSS, the inspector-general of police and the Office of the National Security Adviser. A Jigawa court reportedly ordered that the girl be released to her parents, but the DSS filed a counter-motion, saying investigations were ongoing.

The controversy deepened after media interviews and public statements by advocacy groups. A coalition including Muslim civil society organizations called for her transfer to neutral custody, warning that the matter risked inflaming religious tensions.

Barrister Haroun Muhammad, deputy national legal adviser of the Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, said the council intervened to help de-escalate tensions.

“The matter is capable of throwing the country into chaos,” he said. “Whatever happened here today will send the right or wrong signal to society.”

Namadi said both Walida and her baby would remain under the protection of the Jigawa government until the courts determine outstanding issues, including questions surrounding her age and the circumstances of her disappearance.

“All contentious issues will be tabled before a court of law for adjudication,” he said.

The governor was accompanied to the DSS headquarters by senior state officials, including the speaker of the Jigawa State House of Assembly, the state attorney-general and the commissioner for women affairs. Representatives of FIDA, civil society groups and the media were also present.

As investigations continue, the case has become a focal point in national conversations about child protection, abuse of office and the handling of sensitive interfaith matters in Nigeria.

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