The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested one of its personnel, Ifeanyi Onyewuenyi, over the alleged abduction, defilement, and forceful conversion of a 16-year-old girl, Walida Abdulhadi.
The arrest followed a petition dated Jan. 4, 2026, submitted to the Director-General of the DSS by an Abuja-based law firm, Gamji Lawchain, on behalf of the victim’s father, Alhaji Abdulhadi Ibrahim.
In the petition, the law firm accused the officer of abducting the teenager from the Hadejia area of Jigawa State when she was a minor, noting that she was legally incapable of consenting to a sexual relationship.
The family claimed they searched for the girl for over two years, a period of emotional trauma they alleged led to the death of the girl’s mother.
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The petition stated: “The anxiety, fear, and emotional devastation of losing their underage daughter slowly destroyed the mother, who eventually died as a direct consequence of the psychological trauma.”
According to the document, the suspect reportedly called the girl’s father on Jan. 1, informing the family that the victim had been with him, had given birth to a child, and that he was “ready to marry her.”
The law firm further alleged that when the father sent a representative, Muhammad Badamasi Ibrahim, to a DSS facility in Abuja, they discovered the victim had been living inside a DSS residence throughout her disappearance.
The counsel alleged that while in custody, the victim was converted from Islam to Christianity without parental consent and subjected to sexual exploitation.
Describing the incident as “moral bankruptcy in uniform,” the firm demanded the immediate suspension and prosecution of the officer, an independent investigation into the Karmajiji DSS facility, and the release of the victim and her child.
Confirming the development in a statement on Friday, the DSS Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, Mr Favour Dozie, said the suspect was already in custody.
Dozie clarified the identity of the personnel involved, stating: “The attention of the Department of State Services has been drawn to reports alleging involvement of a staff of DSS, one Ifeanyi Festus, in a case of abduction, defilement of a minor, and abuse of office, among other offences. For clarity, the Service has no record of the above-named in its employment.
“However, it is hereby confirmed that an active staff, Ifeanyi Onyewuenyi, who is suspected to have forcefully converted and married one Walida Abdulhadi ‘f’, has been arrested and is currently being investigated.”
The spokesperson maintained that such acts contravened the agency’s regulations and code of conduct, adding that the outcome of the investigation would be made public.
