• Super Admin
• 06 Mar, 2026

Several women's groups on Thursday in Dutse, the capital of Jigawa State, praised the Department of State Services (DSS) for what they described as the impressive handling of the complex case involving a Jigawa-born lady, Walida Abdulhadi. The women, numbering in their hundreds, made their position known during a solidarity march in support of the DSS. They marched from Maiqwariya Roundabout through major streets of the town, chanting songs in support of Walida and the DSS, before terminating the procession at the Government House in Dutse. Led by a trio of Aisha Shamshudeen, Balaraba Aliyu, and Salma Abdullahi, the women carried banners and placards expressing support and confidence in the DSS. Some of the banners bore inscriptions such as: "Thank You DSS for Standing by Walida," "We Are Happy with the DSS for Refusing to Play Politics with Walida's Plight," and "Walida Has Become a Test Case for Gender Rights," among others. At the Government House, where the women were received by the Permanent Secretary, Audu Garba Dutse, leaders of the coalition took turns to speak, largely expressing support for the way the case is being handled by the DSS. They also expressed hope that the matter would not be politicised at the expense of Walida. One of the speakers, Ms. Abdullahi, recounted how she once reported a suspected rape case to the Jigawa State Command of the DSS, noting that the matter was diligently handled. She said the professionalism displayed by the Service in handling the case gave her confidence that the agency would treat Walida's matter with the utmost professionalism. "I was therefore not surprised that the Director-General of the DSS co-opted all relevant stakeholders to help unravel how we got to where we are on Walida's case and how to assist many other young women who might be going through similar ordeals or experiences," she said, while also commending the state governor for his support. Meanwhile, some other groups in Hadejia had on Wednesday also expressed support for the DSS over its handling of the Walida case. Residents of the town staged a peaceful demonstration at the Sambajo Roundabout, where they commended the state government for ensuring Walida's well-being and accommodating her in Abuja. They also cautioned against actions capable of disrupting the peace of the state. Abubakar Babangida, who spoke on behalf of the umbrella association, Hadejia Advocacy Movement, commended Governor Mallam Nura Namadi for what he described as genuine efforts to resolve the matter. He noted that diligence in the investigation process led to the revelation by the National Population Commission (NPC) that Walida is 22 years old, as well as details surrounding her ordeal. Babangida said the case should serve as an eye-opener to the challenges faced by many young girls in the state and beyond, urging parents to take greater responsibility for the welfare of their children, particularly the girl-child. According to him, attention should now be focused on ensuring that Walida receives the best possible therapy to help her recover from the experience. "The focus should be on healing her mind and body, not inciting public disorder, especially as the matter is already being handled by the appropriate authorities," Babangida said. He also thanked the DSS for what he described as the transparency with which the agency handled the matter, including its engagement with several relevant stakeholders. "Happily, the matter is currently in court. It is a test case, and it will be interesting to see how the courts decide. The Jigawa State Government has done well in handling and eventually taking over Walida's case," he added. It will be recalled that the DSS on February 26 handed over Walida to the Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi, following weeks of expanded investigations into her disappearance from home. The Director-General of the DSS, Tosin Ajayi, had assured that Walida's welfare, as well as that of her baby, would be given top priority. He also promised that the same diligence and transparency displayed during the investigation would be maintained throughout the court process. Representatives of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), the Ministry of Women Affairs, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, and other civil society organisations, including the Arewa Youth Assembly (AYA) and the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), were present during the handover. Source: https://thenationonlineng.net/jigawa-women-laud-dss-over-handling-of-walidas-case/