The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) has intervened in a disturbing cross-state family dispute involving Hannatu Ibrahim, a widow from Taraba State, who alleges that her late husband’s relatives abducted her three children after allegedly seizing all the property left behind by her husband.

FIDA’s Adamawa Chairperson, Jamila Babuba, described Hannatu’s ordeal during a supposed “peace meeting” in Pella, Hong LGA, as shocking and unacceptable, confirming the organization’s intervention to SaharaReporters on Wednesday.

Hannatu claims that the relatives, who had dispossessed her of her late husband’s assets—including a Toyota Corolla, goods worth N7 million, a pepper storage facility valued at N635,000, documents for two plots of land, and other belongings—lured her into a fraudulent reconciliation meeting. On November 7, 2025, she attended the meeting with her three children and younger brother, Yahaya Usman, only for the children to disappear two days later while briefly stepping out. Witnesses reported that unknown men had driven away with the children.

Rumors allege that Inspector Briska Adamu Pandi, a serving officer with the Plateau State Police Command and the late husband’s elder brother, may be in possession of the children. One of the abducted children is 13 years old with special needs, intensifying concerns.

A cultural expert familiar with the late husband’s Kilba heritage told SaharaReporters that the family had no legal or cultural right to take the children, describing the alleged actions as an attempt to seize the estate and abandon the children.

FIDA Chairperson Jamila Babuba revealed that the organization has been working closely with Hannatu’s legal team to ensure the case is properly handled in Taraba State, where the widow resides and where most of the alleged wrongdoing occurred. Babuba warned that leaving the case in Adamawa could amount to injustice and embolden the accused parties.

Inspector Briska Pandi confirmed to SaharaReporters that the children are with him and said he had already taken legal steps to seek custody, denying allegations of mismanaging his late brother’s assets.

Hannatu has appealed to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Zone 3, to intervene urgently and rescue her children. Her petition has been copied to FIDA Adamawa, the National Human Rights Commission, and the Adamawa State Attorney-General.

FIDA has pledged to pursue the matter until the widow and her children receive full justice.