By Achile Danjuma
Hundreds of residents, including youths and women, took to the streets of Kaduna on Thursday to demand a public audit of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s administration and answers regarding the disappearance of Abubakar Idris, a lecturer popularly known as Dadiyata.
The peaceful protesters gathered at the UTC roundabout before marching to the Government House, carrying placards and chanting solidarity songs. Their messages directly challenged the former governor, with signs reading: “Malam Nasir El-Rufai, where is Dadiyata?”; “We demand public scrutiny, audit now”; and “Publish loan agreement and spending breakdown now.” Other placards highlighted the broader sentiment of the protest, stating, “Kaduna lived in fear, we want the truth.”
Dadiyata, a social media commentator, was abducted from his home in Kaduna by gunmen in 2019 and has not been seen since, a case that remains a source of deep controversy and grief.
Addressing journalists, protest leader Anas Yusuf emphasized that the demonstration was a quest for accountability, not a political maneuver. “We are not here for politics; we are here for accountability,” he stated. “Kaduna bled. Communities were attacked, Birnin Gwari faced isolation, banditry escalated, citizens were kidnapped, families buried loved ones, and fear became normal during the last administration.”
Yusuf directly addressed the former governor, saying, “Those years cannot be erased with speeches. Former Governor Nasir El-Rufai must answer hard questions. You governed, and now you must account.”
Another leader, Joseph Chori, described the unresolved case of Dadiyata as an “open wound” for the community. “A family still waits. Kaduna still asks: what happened?” he said.
The protesters’ demands extended beyond the missing lecturer. They called for an independent, public security audit of the eight-year tenure of the El-Rufai administration, insisting on a thorough examination of the handling of insecurity during that period.
Furthermore, they demanded the full disclosure of all financial agreements made under the former governor, specifically calling on the current state government to publish the agreement and a detailed expenditure breakdown for the $350 million World Bank loan obtained by the previous administration. “Loans are not free money. Public debt demands public accountability because citizens will repay that debt. They deserve transparency,” the group asserted.
In response to previous statements made by El-Rufai, who denied involvement in Dadiyata’s disappearance and suggested the lecturer was a critic of the Kano State government, the protesters maintained their focus on Kaduna’s experience.
Acknowledging the relative peace currently being experienced under Governor Uba Sani, the protesters framed their action as a necessary step to strengthen democracy and ensure justice. “We will not allow destabilisation to shield anyone from scrutiny. This is not revenge; this is justice and democracy. We will not forget the victims. Kaduna deserves better, and Kaduna will demand it,” they concluded.