The Social Democratic Party, SDP, in Niger State has accused Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of prioritising his 2027 re-election ambition over the safety of residents amid rising attacks, kidnappings and killings across the state.
The party alleged that armoured personnel carriers, APCs, purchased by the state government to combat insecurity had remained parked at Government House for over two years instead of being deployed to security agencies.
The accusation followed the alleged abduction of 50 pupils of an Islamic school in Maikujeri, Rafi Local Government Area, on Saturday by gunmen suspected to be bandits.
The pupils were reportedly abducted while working on a farm belonging to one of their teachers, who was also taken away.
In a statement issued in Minna on Monday, Johnathan Vatsa, spokesperson for the SDP governorship candidate Mohammed Ndarani Mohammed, blamed the governor for what he described as the government’s failure to adequately equip security agencies.
Vatsa noted that the agencies lacked operational vehicles and other essential equipment to confront armed groups, adding that government responses to attacks had largely been limited to condemnations and condolence messages.
He said, “The current situation has overwhelmed the security agencies because this government has failed to properly equip them. The security agencies in the state lack operational vehicles and other necessary equipment to confront the situation.”
The SDP spokesperson specifically questioned why APCs, allegedly purchased by the administration in its early days, had not been released to security agencies.
He claimed the vehicles had remained unused at Government House for more than two years despite persistent attacks on communities.
“Who is he going to campaign to when the people are being killed or kidnapped and many rendered homeless? What are armoured vehicles meant for? Are they meant to protect the governor during campaigns? These important vehicles are bought with taxpayers’ money because of the security challenges in the state.
“The governor should release them to the security agencies to enable them to protect innocent villagers. Enough of this killing and kidnapping in the state,” he said.
Vatsa also faulted the government’s alleged explanation that the vehicles had not been released because security agencies lacked the capacity to maintain them.
“If the government knows that the security agencies cannot maintain these vehicles, then why did you buy them? This excuse amounts to calling a dog a bad name in order to hang it. The governor is prioritising his personal safety over that of the larger population,” he added.
The SDP spokesman maintained that the abduction of the pupils and recurring attacks across Niger State could have been prevented if security agencies were adequately equipped.
He urged the governor to release the armoured vehicles and take concrete measures to protect residents rather than focus on political activities ahead of the 2027 elections.
However, responding to the allegations, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Hon. Obed Nuhu Nana, dismissed claims that the vehicles were being withheld by the state government or reserved for use during the 2027 elections.
The commissioner described the allegations as speculation, insisting that the vehicles were already with the military and under its control.
“The vehicles are already with the military, and they are the ones in control of their deployment and usage. Those alleging that the vehicles are being kept at Government House should provide evidence. They are not at Government House.
“Journalists can also verify this from the Commanding Officer of the Training and Doctrine Command, TRADOC,” he insisted.
The commissioner maintained that Governor Bago procured the vehicles long before the current political season, questioning suggestions that they were intended for electoral purposes.