Former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has been effectively grounded by security authorities following the seizure of his passport at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja last Thursday, amidst a reopened investigation into the mysterious 2019 disappearance of Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata.
A senior security source has confirmed that the action by the Department of State Services (DSS) was a deliberate strategic move to prevent the former governor from returning to Cairo, Egypt, after he made a brief visit to Nigeria.
Investigators believe El-Rufai was aware of the escalating probe into the cold case and had planned to depart again after holding meetings with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).
The development marks a significant escalation in the long-dormant case of Dadiyata, a lecturer at the Federal University Dutsinma and a vocal government critic who vanished from his Kaduna residence on August 1, 2019.
He has not been seen or heard from in over six years, despite sustained pressure from human rights organizations and international observers.
According to the source, months of discreet investigations prompted the review of the cold case, with authorities now examining fresh leads that suggest possible involvement by key actors during the period of the abduction. The probe has widened to scrutinize alleged links between the former governor and his sons.
A particular point of interest for investigators stems from a recent interview El-Rufai granted to ARISE Television. In that interview, the former governor claimed knowledge of a police officer who allegedly confessed to participating in Dadiyata’s abduction, stating that the team involved was “sent from Kano.”
Security officials have described this claim as deeply troubling, questioning why such potentially explosive information—if indeed credible—was never officially reported to security agencies or acted upon at the time. The source suggested that this omission raised red flags for investigators.
Furthermore, officials are looking into past social media posts authored by El-Rufai’s sons, Bello and Bashir, which allegedly suggest that Dadiyata was viewed as a hostile critic of the family.
Despite the dramatic nature of the passport seizure, the DSS has emphasized that the move is not an arrest but a lawful precautionary measure while inquiries continue. Investigators maintain they are acting within their statutory mandate and are collaborating with the EFCC and ICPC on related matters involving former associates of the ex-governor.
The incident has ignited a fresh wave of public discourse, with political figures and activists intensifying calls for a thorough and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Dadiyata’s disappearance. The case, long considered a stain on Nigeria’s human rights record, now appears to be back under the spotlight with renewed vigor.
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