SDP accuses Niger govt of retaining armoured automobiles at Government House amid insecurity

The Social Democratic Party, SDP, in Niger State has accused Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of prioritising his 2027 re-election ambition over the security of residents amid rising assaults, kidnappings and killings throughout the state.

The celebration alleged that armoured personnel carriers, APCs, bought by the state authorities to fight insecurity had remained parked at Government House for over two years as a substitute of being deployed to safety businesses.

The accusation adopted the alleged abduction of fifty pupils of an Islamic faculty in Maikujeri, Rafi Local Government Area, on Saturday by gunmen suspected to be bandits.

The pupils have been reportedly kidnapped whereas engaged on a farm belonging to considered one of their academics, who was additionally taken away.

In a press release 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 federal government’s failure to adequately equip safety businesses.

Vatsa famous that the businesses lacked operational automobiles and different important gear to confront armed teams, including that authorities responses to assaults had largely been restricted to condemnations and condolence messages.

He mentioned, “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 particularly questioned why APCs, allegedly bought by the administration in its early days, had not been launched to safety businesses.

He claimed the automobiles had remained unused at Government House for greater than two years regardless of persistent assaults 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 ought to launch them to the safety businesses to allow them to guard harmless villagers. Enough of this killing and kidnapping within 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 federal government is aware of that the safety businesses can not keep these automobiles, then why did you purchase them? This excuse quantities to calling a canine a nasty title with a purpose to dangle it. The governor is prioritising his private security over that of the bigger inhabitants,” 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 automobiles are already with the army, and they’re those answerable for their deployment and utilization. Those alleging that the automobiles are being stored at Government House ought to present proof. They usually 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 automobiles lengthy earlier than the present political season, questioning solutions that they have been meant for electoral functions.