Niger SDP accuses Bago of prioritising 2027 re-election over citizens’ security

Niger SDP accuses Bago of prioritising 2027 re-election over citizens’ security

From Mohammed Baba Busu, Minna

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Niger has accused Gov. Umaru Bago of prioritising his 2027 re-election ambition over the security and welfare of residents of the state.

The party alleged that the governor had failed to adequately protect the lives and property of the people whose mandate he would seek in the forthcoming election.

The SDP said the persistent attacks by gunmen on communities across the state had resulted in killings and abductions of innocent citizens, expressing concern that the situation had continued without effective measures to address it.

The party’s position followed the abduction of more than 50 pupils of an Islamic school in Pandogari, Rafi Local Government Area of Niger, by suspected bandits on Saturday.

The pupils were reportedly abducted while working on a farm belonging to one of their teachers, who was also among those kidnapped.
The party’s position was conveyed in a statement issued in Minna on Monday by Mr Johnathan Vatsa, spokesperson for its governorship candidate, Mr Mohammed Ndarani Mohammed (SAN).

Vatsa blamed the state government for what he described as the persistent attacks by gunmen, which had led to the deaths and abductions of innocent residents.

He described the governor’s handling of the security situation as unacceptable, alleging that security agencies lacked adequate operational vehicles and other essential equipment to confront the threat.

“The current situation has overwhelmed the security agencies because this government has failed to equip them properly.

“The security agencies in the state lack operational vehicles and other necessary equipment to confront the situation,” he said.

Vatsa further accused the government of limiting its response to issuing statements condemning attacks and commiserating with affected communities without taking sufficient concrete measures to tackle the insecurity.

He also criticised the government for allegedly failing to release Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), reportedly purchased in the early days of the administration, to security agencies for use in combating banditry and other criminal activities.

According to him, the armoured vehicles have remained idle at the Government House for more than two years instead of being deployed to support security operations across the state.

“The 2027 re-election is more of a priority to the governor than the lives of innocent citizens.

“Who is he going to campaign to when people are being killed or kidnapped, while many others are rendered homeless?” he queried.
Vatsa questioned the purpose of purchasing the armoured vehicles if they were not to be deployed to address the state’s security challenges.

“What are the armoured vehicles meant for? Are they meant to protect the governor during campaigns?

“These important vehicles were bought with taxpayers’ money because of the security challenges in the state. The governor should release them to the security agencies to enable them protect innocent villagers,” he said.

He called on the governor to immediately make the vehicles available to the relevant security agencies, insisting that the continued killings and abductions across the state were unacceptable.

The SDP spokesperson also faulted the government’s reported position that the security agencies could not maintain the vehicles, describing the explanation as untenable.

“If the government knows that the security agencies cannot maintain these vehicles, then why did it 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 further alleged that the vehicles were being kept for the governor’s use during political campaigns, describing the situation as inconsistent with responsible governance.

He maintained that the abduction of the pupils in Pandogari and other security incidents might have been prevented if security agencies had been adequately equipped and operational resources deployed promptly.

The SDP spokesperson urged the state government to prioritise the protection of lives and property and take concrete steps to strengthen security operations across Niger.