The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Niger State has accused Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of allegedly prioritising his 2027 re-election ambition over the safety and security of residents amid renewed attacks, kidnappings and killings across the state.
The allegation followed the reported abduction of about 50 pupils of an Islamic school in Maikujeri, Rafi Local Government Area, by suspected bandits on Saturday.
The pupils were reportedly working on a farm belonging to one of their teachers when the attackers struck. 
The teacher was also said to have been abducted.
Reacting to the incident in a statement issued in Minna on Monday, Johnathan Vatsa, spokesperson for the SDP governorship candidate, Mohammed Ndarani Mohammed, accused the Bago administration of failing to provide security agencies with adequate logistics and operational equipment to tackle armed groups in the state.
Vatsa alleged that armoured personnel carriers (APCs) procured by the state government to strengthen security operations had remained parked at the Government House for more than two years instead of being deployed to security agencies.
He said security personnel were operating without adequate vehicles and other essential equipment, while the government’s response to attacks had allegedly been largely limited to condemnations and condolence messages.
“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,” Vatsa said.
The SDP spokesman also criticised an alleged explanation that the APCs 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 alleged.
Vatsa urged the governor to immediately release the armoured vehicles to security agencies and take concrete measures to protect vulnerable communities across the state.
He also advised the administration to focus on addressing the worsening security situation rather than political activities ahead of the 2027 elections.
Niger State has continued to grapple with insecurity, particularly in communities affected by banditry, kidnapping and other forms of criminality. Several local government areas have recorded attacks and abductions, with some communities suffering displacement and disruption of economic activities.
However, the state government rejected the SDP’s allegations.
The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Obed Nuhu Nana, dismissed claims that the armoured vehicles were being withheld by the government or reserved for use during the 2027 elections.
Nana’s response came as the SDP intensified its criticism of the Bago administration over the security situation, particularly following the reported abduction of the pupils in Rafi Local Government Area.
The government did not, however, provide further details on the location or operational status of the armoured vehicles in its response.
