‘Political strategy’ – Shehu Sani reacts to viral video of kidnapped Kaduna family

Former Kaduna Central senator, Shehu Sani, has reacted to a viral video displaying a suspected bandit pointing a gun at a kidnapped family comprising a mom, father and a child in Kaduna State.

The victims had been reportedly kidnapped on Monday, October 5, 2026, when armed bandits invaded Alrahus Estate in Millennium City, Kaduna State.

Reacting, Sani described the video as tragic, unlucky and condemnable, expressing concern over the rising exploitation of kidnapping and banditry for political functions.

In a press release he issued through his X deal with on Monday, the previous lawmaker recalled earlier instances of mass kidnappings in Kaduna State, together with the abductions of lots of of college students from Greenfield University, the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation and Bethel Baptist High School.

“The viral video of a ‘bandit’ pointing a gun at a kidnapped Kaduna mom, father and a small child is tragic, unlucky and condemnable.

“Years in the past, we had such tragic experiences with the kidnappings of lots of of college students of Greenfield University, Federal Forestry School and Bethel Baptist High School in Kaduna.

“The curious factor about this brief video is the bandit hiding and demanding N300 million from a poor family of three and posting it on social media.

“The exploitation of Kidnapping and the weaponisation of banditry for political ends by means of footages like which might be probably to be extra frequent nowadays. Bandits criminality is now factored as a political technique.

“The purpose is to set off outrage and evoke sympathy to appeal to political help. It’s simpler to defeat banditry than overcome politically induced banditry.

“While calling on the security agencies to step up efforts to secure the release of the hostages, it’s a fact on the ground that security in the state is far better than it used to be through the efforts of the state government,” Sani stated.