By Ayo Ayodele
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, has condemned the recent terrorist attacks in parts of Niger State that left at least 42 people dead and several others abducted.
In a statement issued on Monday, Professor Yilwatda described the attacks on communities in Agwara and Borgu Local Government Areas as “barbaric and inhuman,” saying they constituted a direct assault on Nigeria’s peace and unity.
He expressed concern over reports of sustained violence in Kasuwan Daji and Kaima, including the killing of villagers, destruction of homes, markets and places of worship, as well as the abduction of pupils and students from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri.
The APC chairman conveyed the party’s sympathy to Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, the state government, and affected families, assuring them of the party’s solidarity.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as a swift and decisive response, noting that the President had directed the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, service chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Services to track down and apprehend those responsible for the attacks.
According to Yilwatda, President Tinubu has also ordered security agencies to urgently rescue all abducted victims, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property.
He added that intelligence reports suggest the attackers are terrorists believed to be fleeing from Sokoto and Zamfara States, stressing that Nigeria’s security agencies are on high alert to prevent further violence.
The APC chairman reiterated the party’s full support for President Tinubu’s counter-terrorism efforts and urged citizens to cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information. He also called on traditional rulers, religious leaders and community stakeholders to work with authorities to restore peace.
“The forces of terror will not defeat our collective resolve. Nigeria will prevail,” he said.