The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Niger State has described as insensitive for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to flag off campaigns for the 2027 general elections while over 500 people were still being held captive by bandits.
The SDP in a statement in Minna yesterday, signed by the gubernatorial campaign spokesman and director, Contacts and Mobilisation, Hon Jonathan Vatsa described the action of the governor as “not only insensitive but a complete lack of human feelings.”
The former commissioner for Information Culture and Tourism, and a former chieftain of the APC in the state asked the governor to put a halt to his re-election campaign until those in captivity were released and re-united with their families.
He said those being held under bandits captivity, were 500 women, children and men abducted during a Friday Jummat prayers in Dakera in Borgu local government area, the 16 Islamic students from Maikujere in Rafi local government area abducted on October 30, 2026 and the 47 abducted women from their farms in Mariga local government, adding that “these innocent citizens are still languishing in the bush in the hands of the terrorists.”
The SDP spokesperson argued that no responsible government would be comfortable and have the moral stand to embark on re-election campaign “when those you are seeking their votes are languishing in captivity.”
Vatsa alleged that while about 30 of the 500 worshippers abducted from Dekera community were said to have died in captivity, the remaining ones are still being held captive while the government looks other way.
He said, “We learnt in authority that one innocent girl called Aisha from Lavun local government area that was kidnapped while returning home from Kontagora after collecting her certificate will soon be married out to one of the terrorists because the parents could not afford the ransom.
“These are just the reported ones that are in captivity, there are many more that we do not know of across the state, yet the governor is happy to embark on re-election campaigns.”
He expressed dismay that the governor had not paid a sympathy visit to any of the communities under attacks to identify with them, yet he has scheduled a campaign to the same areas.
In his reaction, the director-general on media to the governor and deputy director media of the APC campaign organisation, Malam Yahaya Idris said it was true that over 500 were in captivity but noted that politics should not be played with security.
He challenged the SDP to provide evidence of those abducted by the bandits as the party claimed adding that because of the sensitive nature of security, the government would not come to the open to disclose the efforts being made to ensure adequate security in the state.