The Department of State Services (DSS) has handed over Walida, a minor who was allegedly abducted and impregnated by a serving DSS operative, Ifeanyi Onyewuenyi, to Umar Namadi, the governor of Jigawa State. Walida and her baby were handed to the governor on Wednesday at the DSS headquarters in Abuja.
The handover included several officials: Haruna Aliyu, Speaker of the Jigawa Assembly; Bello Abdulkadir Fanini, Attorney-General of the state; and Hajiya Hadiza Abdulwahab, Commissioner for Women Affairs. Representatives from the Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), and other civil society groups were also present. Walida’s parents, however, were not present during the handover.
Governor and DSS Remarks
Governor Umar Namadi described Walida as a daughter of the state and pledged that the government would take responsibility for her safety and full recovery. “Walida will be kept in Abuja under adequate security. Her case is a state matter and will be treated as such,” he said, explaining that custody does not automatically mean she would be returned to Jigawa immediately.
DSS Director-General Tosin Ajayi confirmed that the agency had kept Walida in custody since her recovery in January 2026. He stated that the DSS officer involved is in custody and warned that he would face the full force of the law if found guilty. “Our priority is the safety and future of Walida,” Ajayi said.
Case Background
Walida, who was 16 at the time, went missing in November 2023 in Hadejia, Jigawa State. Her disappearance reportedly caused severe psychological trauma, leading to the death of her mother.
On January 1, 2026, Walida’s father, Abdulhadi Ibrahim, received a call from DSS officer Ifeanyi Onyewuenyi, who revealed that his daughter was in his custody and had given birth. The officer allegedly attempted to arrange a marriage with the girl. Subsequent inquiries revealed that Walida had been held at a DSS facility in Abuja and was reportedly converted from Islam to Christianity.
Following legal petitions by Gamji Lawchain to the DSS, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the DSS arrested Onyewuenyi.
Moving Forward
Walida will remain under state protection while investigations continue. Both the Jigawa government and DSS emphasized that her welfare and security remain their top priority as the case is thoroughly investigated.
