The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has expressed the party’s solidarity with the government and people of Niger State over the disappearance of schoolchildren from St. Mary’s School, Papiri, in Agwara Local Council.
Gatekeepers News reports that Prof. Yilwatda stated this on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, when he led members of the APC National Working Committee (NWC) on a sympathy visit to Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago at the Government House, Minna.
Decrying the rising incidents of kidnapping across the country, the APC chairman lamented the pattern and frequency of the attacks.
“Our hearts are heavy, and we stand in solidarity with the government and people of Niger State in this moment of grief,” he said.
Prof. Yilwatda commended security agencies for their ongoing efforts, noting that the directives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu were yielding “positive results.” He expressed hope that the missing St. Mary’s School children would be safely rescued.
He also praised Governor Bago for what he described as notable developmental strides and the promotion of religious harmony in the state. According to him, “religious tolerance is what the nation needs at the moment.”
In his response, Governor Bago thanked the APC chairman and the NWC members for the visit, describing it as a demonstration of the unity within the party. He called for continued prayers for the safe return of the missing children and for lasting peace in the state and the country.
The governor reaffirmed Niger State’s commitment to peaceful coexistence, saying, “there is strength in diversity.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Martina Yilwatda, wife of the APC National Chairman, has called on Nigerian women to take a more active role in politics ahead of the 2027 general elections. She urged women to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reelection bid and also champion the political advancement of fellow women.
Speaking during a meeting with members of the Women Leadership Network (WLN) on Sunday in Abuja, she argued that true inclusion would only be achieved when women take ownership of the process.
“We must not only come out to work; we must come out to contest,” she said. “If we want a different narrative, the change must begin with us. We have to be deliberate.”
Dr. Yilwatda explained that the WLN is being expanded nationwide — from states to local governments and down to polling units — to identify, mentor and empower more women to seek political office while preparing younger women for long-term leadership roles.
