Feb 23 β€’ 18:44 UTC 🌍 Africa AllAfrica

Nigeria: Walida, ESE and the Unfinished Business of Child Protection

The story of Walida Abdullahi highlights serious concerns about child protection and the involvement of national security agencies in potential abuses in Nigeria.

Walida Abdullahi's case has sparked significant outrage in Nigeria due to the disturbing allegations surrounding her disappearance and the purported actions of a national security agency. The allegations include abduction, forced religious conversion, and exploitation, which raise critical concerns about the safety and protection of vulnerable children in a country where institutions designed to safeguard citizens may be complicit in harm. Such realizations challenge the public's trust in these institutions and question where parents and guardians can turn for safety.

This case came to light when a Magistrate's Court in Jigawa State issued an arrest warrant for an operative from the Department of State Services following a petition from Walida's father. The petitioner claims that his daughter was taken as a minor, unlawfully detained, and coerced into a new religious identity. The situation is particularly alarming as it suggests possible collusion between state security agencies and acts of violence or exploitation against children, prompting discussions around the need for stringent oversight and reforms in child protection laws.

Ongoing investigations are crucial for establishing accountability and each step in the judicial process will be closely monitored by both the public and civil society organizations advocating for children's rights. The implications of this case extend beyond Walida's individual trauma, calling for a national dialogue on child protection, the responsibilities of security agencies, and the urgent need for legal protections to prevent further abuses in similar contexts.

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