A coalition of civil society organisations and religious leaders has accused Nigeria’s State Security Service (SSS) of defying a court order by continuing to detain 16-year-old Walida Abdulhadi. The group is demanding the agency’s immediate compliance with judicial directives and an independent investigation into an officer linked to the case.
The Concerned Coalition for Walida Abdulhadi, which includes groups such as the International Human Rights Commission Relief Fund Trust and Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), addressed reporters in Abuja on Monday. It described the situation as a critical test of institutional accountability and the rule of law.
According to a petition filed by lawyers from Gamji Lawchain on behalf of Walida’s father, an SSS officer identified as Mr. Ifeanyi Onyewuenyi abducted the teenager from Jigawa State over two years ago. The petition alleges unlawful detention, sexual exploitation, and forced conversion from Islam to Christianity without parental consent. It further states that Walida gave birth while in custody. Her father claims his wife died during the period of her daughter’s disappearance, attributing her death to prolonged emotional distress.
A central dispute in the case is Walida’s age. The coalition maintains family records show she was 16 when she went missing, while some recent media reports cite her age as 22. The group stressed that the age determination is legally decisive for child protection statutes and called for any assessment to rely solely on verifiable documents and independent legal review.
The coalition also questioned why the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the statutory body for minor and trafficking cases, has not been centrally involved. It raised concerns about a conflict of interest should the SSS investigate its own officer. Furthermore, the coalition alleged that Walida’s family has been denied direct access to her, preventing independent verification of her welfare and that of her child.
Spokesperson Abubakar Adam Qaloon urged that the issue not be framed as religious, stating, “This is about child protection, parental rights, institutional accountability, and respect for court orders.” The coalition called on the federal government and SSS leadership to ensure court orders are obeyed, facilitate family reunification if directed by the courts, and guarantee an impartial probe.
The case has drawn national attention, with observers noting similarities to the Ese Oruru case, where a teenager was taken, converted, and later recovered following legal intervention. That case resulted in the conviction of the perpetrator.
As of this report, the SSS had not issued an official response. The coalition concluded by urging that due process proceed without obstruction, allowing truth and justice to be determined through constitutional mechanisms.
