‘Our hearts are heavy’: APC declares full support for Niger State as Party Chair visits Gov Bago

…Yilwatda condemns rising kidnappings, praises security efforts

…Bago calls for prayers, says state draws strength from diversity

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, has reaffirmed the party’s solidarity with Niger State following the abduction of pupils of St Mary’s School, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area.

This was contained in a statement signed by Bologi Ibrahim, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, on Wednesday in Minna.

The statement reads partly: “Our hearts are heavy, and we stand in solidarity with the government and people of the state in this moment of grief.

“We are deeply concerned about the rising cases of kidnapping in the country, especially the sequence in which they are happening.

“The efforts of the security agencies, as directed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, are yielding positive results, and we pray that the St Mary School children will soon be recovered safely.

“We commend the governor for his developmental strides and for fostering religious harmony, which is what the nation needs at the moment.”

Prof Yilwatda, who led a delegation of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to the Government House in Minna, said the visit was to empathise with the state and demonstrate the party’s shared grief over the incident.

The APC chairman stated that President Tinubu had given clear directives to security agencies to prioritise the rescue of the abducted schoolchildren, expressing optimism that the efforts would soon yield a positive outcome.

He also hailed Governor Bago’s leadership style, describing him as a unifying figure whose commitment to development and religious tolerance was strengthening peace across the state.

Responding, Governor Bago expressed appreciation to the APC national chairman and members of the NWC for what he described as a sincere show of camaraderie and brotherhood within the party.

The governor urged Nigerians to intensify prayers for the safe return of the abducted pupils and for sustained peace in the state and the country at large.

Bago reiterated that Niger State remains committed to peaceful co-existence across ethnic and religious lines, stressing that “the strength of our people lies in our diversity.”