Nigerians have criticised former governor Nasir El-Rufai and dubbed him the ‘Grandfather of Kidnappings’ after he accused Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani of abducting a former commissioner.

Maybe El-Rufai, who is Sani’s predecessor, did not envisage the backlash that would follow his X lamentation on Thursday evening but the responses pointed accusatory fingers at him.

“KADUNA UPDATE: Our colleague and versatile former commissioner during the El-Rufai Administration – Mallam Jafaru Sani has been abducted in Kaduna by Uba Sani’s kidnapping gang claiming to be the police this afternoon!” El-Rufai wrote.

Given the political kidnappings and indiscriminate use of power that were rife during his administration, many Nigerian X users have refused to overlook El-Rufai’s comments. They have been calling out the former governor’s hypocrisy.

Abductions were rife during El-Rufai’s tenure as governor. Many have been blamed on him. One such kidnapping is the unresolved case of Abubakar Idris, a social media and staunch government critic also known as Abu Hanifa Dadiyata.

Dadiyata went missing in August 2019 while El-Rufai was governor and has not returned to date.

READ ALSO: For Reporting Southern Kaduna Killings, el-Rufai’s Gov’t Detains Journalist

Every now and then, social media posts ask, “Where is Dadayita?” And every time the question pops up, there is no one to provide the needed answer.

Dadiyata was abducted by heavily armed men at midnight while driving into his Kaduna residence at Barnawa. He was initially suspected to have been arrested by the State Security Service (SSS). Although both the SSS and police have denied arresting him, many Nigerians think that El-Rufai’s state government had a hand in his disappearance.

Steven Kefas, an activist and social commentator, and Segun Onibayo, a broadcaster with the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), were also arrested for anti-El-Rufai social media posts.

While Kefas was arrested in 2019 and spent more than 150 days in detention, Onibayo was detained in 2018 for over 20 days.

Luka Binniyat, a freelance reporter with Epoch Times, was also arrested on November 4, 2021, for reporting killings and the government’s failure to secure lives in Southern Kaduna.

So, when El-Rufai made a post to lament about the former commissioner’s arrest, which he believes has a political undertone, many Nigerians had strong words for him.

READ ALSO: LIVING IN BONDAGE: The Trials and Tribulations of Nigerian Journalists

El-Rufai’s post reads: “Jafaru was remanded in prison custody by a magistrate without any police first information report or charges by the State Ministry of Justice. On inquiry, we have learned that Jafaru is being charged with money laundering — a federal offence that neither the State Judiciary nor even the Police have jurisdiction to adjudicate or investigate. Jafaru’s real crime is his resignation from the APC, and joining the SDP — and having been proposed (sic) as the replacement ministerial nominee representing Kaduna State in August 2023. The tactics are similar to those used against another colleague of ours Bashir Saidu when he was abducted on the 31st of December, 2024, and kept in captivity for 50 days before he was released on bail! The ignominious role of some henpecked and compromised magistrates and high court judges in the Kaduna State judiciary remains a source of great concern to us. We are watching and waiting as no condition is permanent, and there will be accountability for all decisions and actions, one day, soon.”

During El-Rufai’s tenure, between 2015 and 2023, Kaduna faced significant challenges with kidnappings and banditry. Major expressways, especially the Abuja-Kaduna expressway, became notorious for kidnapping incidents.

In 2021, data revealed that each local government area of the state recorded at least one abduction and one killing.

Some quarters, such as the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), even attributed some of the kidnappings to El-Rufai’s “uncouth, unbridled and acidic statements”.

‘Grandfather of Kidnappings, Social Media Wailer’ and Many More Comments…

FIJ observed that many of the comments on the former governor’s post repeatedly asked about Dadayita’s whereabouts.

Comments from X handles like @Baffalefans, @LekkiMassacre21, @jude_ukaigwe and @_fateehu read: “These types of Kidnapping made us always ask #WhereIsDadiyata?

“Why are you complaining to us? Did you not do worse? Where is Dadiyata? The evil you planted and propagated in Kaduna State during your evil reign will continue to hunt you and your loved ones.

“Where is Dadiyata, you monster?

“What goes around comes around. That’s life. May the Almighty God protect our brother, @dadiyata wherever he is and may He bring him back safely.”

James Tinuola, who wrote about the highhandedness of the past administration, said, “The Lamentations of El-Rufai? Kwot!!! True True nothing lasts forever. After ruling Kaduna State with wickedness and highhandedness against the Good people of Southern Kaduna. Time is truly telling.”

“The revolving doors of Nigerian power. Where today’s power players are tomorrow’s victims. Who’d have thought such a day where El-Rufai will complain about the indiscriminate use of power to oppress political opponents?” wrote Ilemona.

Steven Kefas also wrote, “The grandfather of kidnappings and political abductions in Kaduna is lamenting. How time flies! Cry more Mallam!”

Samuel, another X user, said, “Mallam El-Rufai, oh how the mighty have fallen, what a time to be alive! So you can be reduced to becoming a social media warrior and wailer?”

READ ALSO: FULL TEXT: What El-Rufai Said in Controversial Video

@betacuntri wrote, “You taught Uba Sani well. He’s following your footsteps. What goes around comes around. When we are in power, we should set good examples and precedents that our predecessors should follow.

“Like El Rufai, like Wike. Birds of a feather. If your children like, let them learn from what is happening, because for you, power may not return again. And if a campaign against the El-Rufais erupts in Kaduna, it will be over for them as well.”

@Ballo’s comment on El-Rufai’s post reads, “I hope you realise this is not a good approach. You have arrested so many people in this way as well.”