Bago must account for lives lost in Niger State – Mahdi Shehu
Public affairs commentator Mahdi Shehu has criticized Niger State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago for the recent surge of violence and killings in the state. Shehu asserted that the governor would ultimately be responsible for the loss of lives during his tenure.
In a post shared on his X account on Sunday, Shehu detailed several deadly incidents that have occurred in various communities throughout Niger State in 2026. He specifically referenced a tragic event where 37 children lost their lives during a food distribution exercise allegedly overseen by officials from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). Shehu described this incident as “another sad commentary on the recurring tragedy in Niger State.”
He highlighted previous attacks, including the reported deaths of 61 civilians and security personnel in Shiroro Local Government Area in April, as well as over 30 fatalities in Borgu Local Government Area in August. Shehu noted that the state has been plagued by deadly incidents almost weekly, stating that the occurrences are “too numerous to be counted.”
Citing information from the European Union Agency for Asylum and data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), he claimed that 1,058 people were killed in Niger State between January 2024 and December 2025.
Shehu accused Governor Bago of prioritizing political activities over addressing the escalating insecurity in the state. He criticized the governor’s focus on his re-election campaign and engagement with the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership, arguing that these distractions detract from his responsibility to ensure the safety of residents.
He concluded by asserting that the governor would eventually be held accountable for the lives lost during his administration, as well as for the management of public funds intended for the impoverished citizens of Niger State.
