In a chilling turn of events that has sparked outrage across political and human rights circles, a top chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna State, Edward John Auta, has cried out over a brazen police raid on his residence that culminated in the abduction of his wife by men allegedly dressed in police uniforms.
Auta, who currently serves as the Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs to the PDP State Chairman, took to his verified Facebook page with a post titled “Security Alert”, where he narrated the harrowing experience. According to him, the masked operatives stormed his residence in the dead of night while he was away, seized his wife, and whisked her off to an undisclosed location without explanation or legal documentation.
> “I am deeply disheartened by this development. No police or security agency has extended an invitation to me that I failed to honour,” Auta lamented, expressing shock and helplessness over the incident.
The political strategist explained that he had only recently honoured an invitation from the Department of State Services (DSS) in connection with a petition reportedly filed by a construction company. The petition, he said, stemmed from a Facebook post he made concerning issues of public interest.
> “There was absolutely no justification to abduct my innocent spouse in such a barbaric manner simply because I exercised my right to freedom of expression while I wasn’t even home,” Auta fumed.
He further warned of threats to his family’s safety and called on members of the public, human rights defenders, and the international community to take notice.
> “My life and that of my family members are now in danger,” he wrote. “This is no longer just about me. This is about the unchecked abuse of power and the growing climate of fear being nurtured in our democracy.”
Auta, a respected media practitioner and former Administration and Human Resource Manager at Invicta FM 98.9 Kaduna, has been vocal on matters of governance, transparency, and accountability. Since his appointment as the PDP’s media aide in 2021, he has earned a reputation for fearless commentary and incisive political analysis.
In a June 5 Instagram post following his visit to the DSS office, Auta had previously hinted at the rising tension, expressing gratitude to the agency for its professionalism during the interrogation.
> “I just returned from the DSS Kaduna office where I was invited to respond to a petition from a construction company concerning a Facebook post of public interest,” he wrote.
> “I’m grateful to the DSS for their professionalism and to Barr. Khalid Khalid (PDP State Legal Adviser), Uncle Bomba Dauda, Ambi Geoffrey Nagwaimbi, and Gideon Dauda who stood by me. I’m equally thankful to the hundreds of supporters who reached out with prayers and solidarity.”
“Our interest in matters of public concern shall never die. This I can assure,” he boldly declared.
The incident has not only sent shockwaves through the Kaduna political landscape but has also reignited conversations around civil liberties, freedom of expression, and the weaponisation of state security forces to intimidate opposition voices.
As of press time, the Kaduna State Police Command is yet to release an official statement regarding the operation. Calls and messages sent to the command’s spokesperson went unanswered.
Meanwhile, the whereabouts and condition of Auta’s wife remain unknown, raising urgent questions about due process, accountability, and the unchecked powers wielded by certain elements within Nigeria’s security architecture.
Human rights groups and civil society organisations are already calling for an immediate investigation into the matter, urging President Bola Tinubu’s administration to ensure that the rule of law is upheld and that citizens—regardless of political affiliation—are protected from arbitrary abuse.
This unfolding drama is more than a political squabble; it’s a test of Nigeria’s democratic integrity and its commitment to justice in a society increasingly marred by intimidation and silence.
PIONEER NEWS 