WHEN POWER OVERSHADOWS PROTECTION — MY FINAL POSITION ON WALIDA’S CASE

 WHEN POWER OVERSHADOWS PROTECTION — MY FINAL POSITION ON WALIDA’S CASE

By Tijjani Sarki 


In recent days, many have asked me where I stand on the troubling case of Walida Abdulhadi Ibrahim. I have reflected deeply, and I believe silence at a time like this would amount to complicity.


This case is no longer a private matter. It has become a test of institutional integrity and moral responsibility.

The public was informed that Walida is 22 years old. The Department of State Services (DSS) maintained that her stay in custody was voluntary and for her safety. The Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Minister of Women Affairs, reinforced this position by emphasizing official age verification.


With due respect, I must ask, is the core issue her age, or the circumstances that brought a young woman into the custody of a security operative under a cloud of controversy?

Even if she is 22, does that automatically dissolve concerns about power imbalance, institutional influence, and professional misconduct? A security uniform carries authority.


 That authority must never be blurred with personal interest.

At the center of this matter is Ifeanyi Onyewuenyi, a DSS operative who reportedly claimed that he loves her. Love, we are told.

But is that the legitimate path to marriage in a lawful society? If his intentions were honourable, the proper course was clear approach the family, declare intentions, and follow established legal and cultural processes. As a trained security officer, he understands procedure and accountability. The failure to act transparently raises serious ethical questions.


Beyond the individual, I am deeply concerned about the supervisory responsibility of the DSS. How did this situation escalate into a national controversy before decisive institutional action was taken? Why did it take public outcry to produce movement?

Institutions must never appear to shield their own when credibility is at stake. Public trust in security agencies is fragile and must be protected through swift, transparent accountability.


If investigations confirm misconduct, then dismissal from service should not be optional  it should be immediate.


 Furthermore, the matter should be handed over to the Police for independent investigation. Accountability must be impartial and visible.


This is not about ethnicity. It is not about religion. It is about responsibility.

When a young woman becomes the subject of controversy involving a state security officer, the Ministry of Women Affairs should instinctively stand as a defender of rights  not merely as a verifier of age. The duty of government is to protect the vulnerable and uphold professional standards without ambiguity.


My position is clear:

Institutions must rise above individuals.

Authority must be exercised with discipline.

And justice must be swift, transparent, and uncompromising.


 Tijjani Sarki

Good Governance Advocate & Public Policy Analyst

28th February, 2026

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