The Department of State Services (DSS) has confirmed the arrest of one of its active personnel, Ifeanyi Onyewuenyi, following a disturbing petition alleging the abduction, sexual exploitation, and forceful conversion of a 16-year-old Muslim girl to Christianity.
The arrest was triggered by a formal complaint dated January 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.
The petition details a two-year ordeal that reportedly began when the victim, Walida Abdulhadi, was abducted from her home in the Hadejia area of Jigawa State while still a minor.
A Two-Year Nightmare and a Mother’s Death
The victim’s family claims they searched for Walida for over two years, a period of profound emotional trauma.
The law firm alleged that the girl’s mother died as a direct consequence of the psychological devastation caused by her daughter’s disappearance.
The breakthrough in the case reportedly occurred on New Year’s Day, 2026, when the suspect allegedly called the victim’s father.
During the call, Onyewuenyi reportedly revealed that Walida had been with him throughout her disappearance, had given birth to his child, and that he was now “ready to marry her.”
According to the petition, when a family representative visited a DSS facility in Abuja to investigate the claim, it was discovered that the victim had allegedly been living within a DSS residence for the duration of her disappearance.
The legal counsel for the family has characterized the incident as “moral bankruptcy in uniform.” The petition highlights several grave allegations:
* Sexual Exploitation: The victim was legally incapable of consenting to a sexual relationship at the time of her abduction.
* Forced Conversion: While in custody, the victim was allegedly converted from Islam to Christianity without the knowledge or consent of her parents.
* Abuse of Office: The suspect is accused of using a secure government facility to hide the victim from her family.
The firm has demanded the immediate suspension and prosecution of Onyewuenyi, an independent investigation into the Karmajiji DSS facility, and the safe release of Walida and her infant child.
Official Response from the DSS
In a statement released on Friday, the DSS Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, Mr. Favour Dozie, confirmed that an investigation is underway. While correcting initial reports regarding the suspect’s name, Dozie affirmed the agency’s commitment to accountability.
“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,” Dozie stated.
The spokesperson emphasized that the Service has no room for such conduct, noting that the alleged acts violate the agency’s internal regulations and code of conduct. The DSS has promised that the findings of the investigation will be made public once concluded.
