DSS Releases Missing Girl Walida After She Allegedly Gave Birth To Baby For Operative

The Department of State Services (DSS) has released Walida Abdulhadi, a teenager who had previously been declared missing and was reportedly in its custody.

According to Ireporter Online, Walida was handed over to the Governor of Jigawa State, Umar Namadi, during a visit to the DSS headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday night. The governor was accompanied by senior state officials, including the Speaker of the Jigawa State House of Assembly, Haruna Aliyu; the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Bello Abdulkadir Fanini; the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Hadiza Abdulwahab; and the Commissioner for Environment, Dr Nura Ibrahim Doka, among others.

The Director-General of the DSS, Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, alongside top officials of the Service, formally handed Walida over to the governor. Representatives of the Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), other civil society organisations, and members of the media witnessed the process, which lasted until about 10:40 p.m. Her parents, however, were not present at the time of the handover.

Speaking after receiving her, Governor Namadi assured that all issues surrounding the alleged abduction would be addressed through the courts, stressing that justice would be served. He described Walida as “a daughter of Jigawa State” and pledged that the state government would ensure her safety and full recovery from any trauma she may have experienced.

Reports indicate that Walida was 16 years old when she was allegedly abducted in 2023 from Hadejia Local Government Area of Jigawa State. She was reportedly taken by a woman identified as Mariam and later subjected to sexual exploitation before the suspect fled. Walida eventually resurfaced in Abuja, where she was said to have moved in with a DSS operative, Ifeanyi Onyewuenyi, and gave birth to a baby girl in November 2025.

Her disappearance remained unresolved until December 2025, when her father reportedly received a call from the operative informing him that Walida was with him. Efforts by family members to retrieve her were unsuccessful, prompting a petition to the DSS headquarters and subsequent legal action in a Jigawa court. The court ordered that she be released to her parents, but the DSS filed a counter-motion, stating that investigations were ongoing.

The controversy surrounding the case has centred on allegations of abduction, religious conversion and custody disputes. Governor Namadi stated that Walida would remain under the custody of the Jigawa State government in Abuja pending the resolution of all legal and related matters. He clarified that taking her into state custody does not automatically mean she would be returned to Jigawa immediately, adding that adequate security would be provided.

The governor further disclosed that the baby girl delivered by Walida would also remain under the custody of the state government.

In his remarks, the DSS Director-General stated that the operative involved remains in the Service’s custody and would face disciplinary or legal consequences if found culpable, noting that the agency operates under established rules and procedures.