By Amanabo Ocholi
News Update in Nigeria Today | The Bureau News
After over six years of uncertainty, social media activist and political commentator Abubakar Idris, widely known as Dadiyata, has been confirmed dead, according to a fresh News Update in Nigeria Today.
The revelation was made on Wednesday by investigative public critic, Damilola Adekunle, who had launched a private probe into Dadiyata’s mysterious disappearance. Posting on her official Facebook page, Adekunle stated plainly:
“It is with a heavy heart that I announce that after thorough investigations, I can confirm that Idris Abubakar, popularly known as Dadiyata, is officially dead. #Dadiyata was killed.”
This announcement ends a years-long mystery that began on August 2, 2019, when Dadiyata was forcefully abducted from his home in Barnawa, Kaduna State, by unknown armed men. Despite extensive public outcry, official silence from government institutions had persisted until this independent effort brought some closure.
A Case That Shook Nigeria
Dadiyata, known for his vocal support of former presidential candidate Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and his relentless criticism of government officials, had long been seen as a political target. Many supporters believed his abduction was politically motivated.
In a bold move to uncover the truth, Adekunle announced a ₦10 million investigation fund in May 2025.
“I am launching a N10 million fund to reward anyone that can give me a fact-based investigation into what happened to Abubakar IDRIS (aka Dadiyata). If you know what happened to him, dead or alive, please come to my DM,” she wrote on May 4.
The findings of her investigation now confirm what many feared — Dadiyata is no more.
A Nation Left in Mourning
Since his abduction, Amnesty International Nigeria and various civil society groups had called for urgent government action. But despite repeated pleas, no official statement was ever made regarding his whereabouts.
Tragically, Dadiyata’s mother passed away in 2022 without ever knowing her son’s fate.
“This is a heavy blow to the democratic space and freedom of expression in Nigeria,” one Kaduna-based activist told The Bureau News.
His case, now officially marked by death, is another grim reminder of the dangers faced by outspoken citizens in Nigeria’s volatile political climate.
A Call for Accountability
As news of Dadiyata’s death spreads across the country, questions are once again being raised about the safety of critics, the accountability of security agencies, and the responsibility of the Nigerian government.
Adekunle has not yet released the full details of her investigation but has promised to make her findings public in the coming days.
Until then, the memory of Dadiyata lives on as a chilling symbol of what it means to speak truth to power in Nigeria.
The post 🇳🇬 Missing for 6 Years, Social Media Influencer Dadiyata Confirmed Dead — Investigator appeared first on The Bureau Newspaper.
