By Dadiyata Confirmed Dead
Social critic Damilola Adekunle reports six years later
Summary
- Investigative commentator Damilola Adekunle confirms death of abducted activist Dadiyata
- He was taken from his home in Kaduna at gunpoint in 2019 and never seen again
- Confirmation follows a ₦10 million investigation fund launched in May 2025
Kaduna, Nigeria — Abubakar Idris, widely known as Dadiyata, a prominent social media influencer and political commentator who went missing in 2019, has been confirmed dead.
The announcement was made by investigative public commentator and social critic Damilola Adekunle following what she described as a “thorough investigation.”
Dadiyata was abducted at gunpoint from his Barnawa residence in Kaduna State on August 2, 2019, and had not been seen since.
His disappearance drew national and international attention, with many suspecting political motives due to his outspoken criticism of government figures and his open support for former presidential candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso.
“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,” Adekunle wrote in a post shared on her Facebook page on Wednesday.
The confirmation follows a ₦10 million investigation fund Adekunle launched on May 4, 2025, to encourage individuals to come forward with credible, fact-based information about what happened to Dadiyata.
Since his disappearance, Dadiyata’s family and supporters have endured years of uncertainty, with human rights organisations like Amnesty International Nigeria repeatedly demanding answers from the government.
His mother, who passed away in 2022, died without knowing the fate of her son.
The news has reignited calls for justice and accountability, as many Nigerians remember Dadiyata not only for his social media presence but for his bold stance against political oppression and abuse of power.
