The sudden revival of public emotion around the disappearance of Abubakar Idris, widely known as Dadiyata, raises questions that go beyond sympathy. It points to a usual pattern in our politics where human tragedy becomes useful only when it serves some political interests.

For seven years, his family has lived with uncertainty and agony of his disappearance. His wife has spoken before. Civil society groups have demanded answers. Amnesty International and other advocacy bodies called for investigations. Yet the issue never trended in the national conversation in any impactful way. The pain remained largely private. The outrage, episodic.

Now, following recent public political exchanges involving Nasir El-Rufai, the matter has resurfaced with renewed intensity, taking a different dimension. An interview circulated by Reno Omokri on his social media handles presents Dadiyata’s wife appealing emotionally for the return of her husband. The framing is pointed. The timing is strategic. The message is unmistakably political.

No serious person disputes or politicizes the gravity of an enforced disappearance, but our political elites are shameless when it comes to their political interests. Dadiyata was reportedly abducted from his residence in Kaduna State in August 2019. His whereabouts remain unknown till today. That fact stands on its own and demands accountability. However, when outrage appears selective, citizens are entitled to ask whether principle or politics is driving the narrative.

Public memory in Nigeria is often short. Political alliances shift quickly. Those who kept silent yesterday sometimes speak loudly today. The concern expressed now may be genuine. It may also be convenient. The distinction matters. When advocacy aligns too neatly with partisan battles, it weakens the moral force of the cause. That is hypocrisy embedded in the recently renewed intensity in Dadiyata' case.

The danger is clear. Once a disappearance becomes a tool in political contest, the victim risks being reduced to a symbol. The family’s grief becomes a backdrop for scoring political points. That approach does not advance justice. It deepens mistrust and reinforces the belief that security issues are invoked only when they serve partisan ends.

Citizens must separate two issues in this case, and at all times. First, the unresolved disappearance of a Nigerian citizen, which requires transparent investigation and official clarity. Second, the political rivalry that now frames the conversation. Conflating both may generate noise, but it does not guarantee truth or grant justice.

If the recent renewed attention and media frenzy leads to credible inquiry, it will be welcome. If it merely amplifies partisan politics, it confirms the worry expressed by many observers—that in Nigeria, even tragedy is filtered through politics.