The Zamfara State Government has raised a serious alarm, alleging the politically motivated abduction of one of its officials in the nation's capital. The government directly accused the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, of orchestrating the act through the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).
Details of the Alleged Abduction
According to a statement issued on 8 January 2026 by Sulaiman Bala Idris, the spokesman for Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, the incident involved Saleem Abubakar, a technical assistant in the governor's office. Idris stated that Abubakar was abducted in Abuja on 7 January 2026.
The statement claims the illegal operation was executed by a special forces unit from the office of the National Security Adviser. It was further alleged that the abduction was "syndicated" through the NSA's office by the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.
A Dangerous Precedent of Federal Impunity
The Zamfara government described the event as a shocking and distressing use of federal security apparatus for political persecution. According to the account, the abductors, operating without an arrest warrant, took Saleem Abubakar to an unknown location.
"We later found out they moved him from to different facilities to cover their tracks," the spokesman revealed. The government condemned this action as a perilous precedent that compromises the neutrality of the nation's security agencies.
Call for Presidential Intervention and Justice
In its strong-worded statement, the Zamfara State Government called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately call the office of the National Security Adviser to order. It warned that such reckless actions are detrimental to Nigeria's reputation and democratic principles.
"We cannot afford to fold our arms and watch the highest security office of the country being used as a tool of political persecution," the statement read. The government demanded that if the Defence Minister or the abductors have any case against Saleem Abubakar, he should be properly charged in court rather than being abducted.
The government concluded by asserting its commitment to monitoring this case of "federal impunity" to a logical conclusion, vowing to ensure that justice is served.
