Ganduje denies link to Dadiyata’s disappearance, calls allegation ‘reckless’

Former Kano State Governor and ex-National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has rejected allegations by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, linking him to the disappearance of Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata.

In a statement signed by former Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Muhammad Garba, Ganduje described the allegation as reckless and unfounded, insisting that the incident occurred entirely within Kaduna State and should not be politicised.

Garba said Dadiyata lived and operated in Kaduna, where he was widely known for criticising the Kaduna State Government. According to him, there is no credible evidence suggesting that the activist’s primary focus was the Kano State Government or Ganduje.

He argued that responsibility for security in Kaduna at the time rested with the state government and federal security agencies operating there, adding that serious allegations must be backed by verifiable evidence rather than political rhetoric.

The statement warned that dragging Ganduje into the matter without proof risks politicising a sensitive and unresolved case, potentially deepening public confusion.

Garba also contrasted the political climates of Kano and Kaduna during the period in question, maintaining that Ganduje’s two-term administration in Kano was marked by tolerance for criticism, open media engagement and acceptance of opposition voices. He claimed there were no records of arrests, intimidation or harassment of journalists and critics in Kano during Ganduje’s tenure.

The former commissioner further noted that public discourse over Dadiyata’s disappearance has largely centred on developments within Kaduna State. He referenced previous public comments by former Senator Shehu Sani and commentator Reno Omokri regarding the handling of the case.

Garba also questioned claims attributed to El-Rufai that a police officer allegedly confessed to being sent from Kano to abduct Dadiyata, asking why such information, if credible, was not formally presented to investigative authorities or pursued through appropriate security channels at the time.