In what eyewitnesses have described as a state-sanctioned abduction, heavily armed security operatives on Tuesday evening storme...
In what eyewitnesses have described as a state-sanctioned abduction, heavily armed security operatives on Tuesday evening stormed the Kongo Campus gate area of Zaria and forcefully whisked away outspoken opposition figure Elhassan Qaura-Mata Jnr, Daily Struggle reports.
According to firsthand accounts obtained by Daily Struggle, the incident unfolded like a movie scene — rapid, coordinated, and clearly premeditated. Critics now say the move bears all the markings of a politically motivated operation, designed to silence dissent in the lead-up to 2027.
In a gripping narration, Mohd Lawal Usman, who was driving the vehicle during the incident, stated that they were returning from an engagement in Dembo Ward. Qaura was seated in the front passenger seat, alongside three others in the back — Aliyu Usman, Malam Sas, and a relative.
“Qaura received a call from a friend insisting they meet at the Kongo Campus gate. As soon as we arrived and he returned the call, we were ambushed,” Usman wrote on Facebook. “Two female officers and several male officers with heavy arms surrounded us. They dragged Qaura out, seized his phone, and threw him into a waiting Sienna. It was like a military raid, not a police operation.”
Daily Struggle gathered that the officers refused to identify themselves and offered no explanation for the arrest. When Malam Sas attempted to retrieve his phone from the vehicle, one officer reportedly instructed that he be detained as well — a move only reversed at the last minute.
"Who Sent Them?" — Public Demands Answers
The dramatic arrest has sent shockwaves across Kaduna State and beyond. Questions are now being raised about who ordered the operation — and why.
In a strongly worded Facebook post seen by Daily Struggle, Majida Muhammad Sani demanded transparency:
“Who ordered Qaura’s arrest? Who was the so-called friend that lured him to the gate? Let that individual come forward and explain their role.”
Not an Arrest — A "State-Led Kidnapping"
Other reactions gathered by Daily Struggle were even more explosive. Nazeer Baba didn’t mince words:
“What happened to Qaura wasn’t an arrest. It was a carefully staged kidnapping by state agents. We all saw it. This is Zaria's new definition of democracy?”
Adding to the concerns, Daily Struggle quoted Salim Yunusa, a close associate of Qaura, who disclosed that just two days earlier, Qaura had been assaulted at a public event in Tudun Wada by suspected political thugs:
“We barely escaped that attack. Now this? I was supposed to meet him after Maghrib prayers — only to hear he’s been taken away by armed men.”
#FreeQauraNow Trends As Citizens Push Back
As outrage continues to mount, hashtags like #FreeQaura, #FreeKaura, and #OppositionIsNotACrime are dominating northern Nigeria’s social media landscape.
Abduljalal Musa Aliyu, one of many netizens stated on Facebook: “You cannot keep arresting your critics and call it democracy. It only proves the government fears voices it cannot control.”
In a fiery Facebook statement, Baba Jibril Muhammad went further:
“Opposition is not a crime. If you can’t stand the heat, get out of politics! Nigerians have the right to express their opinions without fear of arrest.”
Silence from the Authorities
At the time of this report, neither the Nigeria Police Force nor any security agency has issued a statement acknowledging or justifying the arrest — or abduction, as many now call it.
Qaura-Mata’s current location remains unknown, and attempts by Daily Struggle to reach security officials have so far been unsuccessful.
Observers say the silence from official quarters only deepens suspicion — and strengthens calls for accountability.
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