Viral Video Of Bandit Pointing Gun At Mother, Father & Small Baby Is Tragic, Unfortunate— Shehu Sani

Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has condemned a viral video allegedly showing an armed bandit threatening a kidnapped couple and their young baby, describing the footage as disturbing and unacceptable.

Sani expressed his concern over the video, which reportedly showed the armed individual pointing a gun at the family while demanding a ransom of ₦300 million. The former lawmaker said the incident was tragic, particularly because a small child was among those allegedly being held captive.

In a statement reacting to the footage, Sani questioned the circumstances surrounding the recording and its circulation on social media.

He also raised concerns about the possibility of kidnapping incidents being used to advance political interests, warning that criminal activities could become entangled in political struggles.

“The viral video of a ‘bandit’ pointing a gun at a kidnapped Kaduna mother, father and a small baby is tragic, unfortunate and condemnable,” the former senator wrote.

Sani recalled previous high-profile abductions in Kaduna State, including the kidnapping of students from Greenfield University, the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation and Bethel Baptist High School.

Those incidents attracted widespread attention and intensified public concern about the security situation in the state.

According to the former lawmaker, the reported ransom demand and the decision to circulate the footage online raise serious concerns about how kidnapping is being used to generate public reactions. He alleged that banditry could increasingly be exploited to provoke outrage, influence public opinion and gain political sympathy.

“The exploitation of kidnapping and the weaponisation of banditry for political ends through footages like that are likely to be more frequent these days. Bandits’ criminality is now factored as a political strategy,” he stated.

Sani warned that efforts to tackle insecurity could become more complicated if criminal activities were encouraged, manipulated or used for political purposes.

He suggested that the politicisation of such incidents could distract from the urgent need to protect victims, pursue those responsible and prevent further abductions.

The former senator called on security agencies to intensify their efforts to secure the release of the kidnapped family and ensure that the victims were brought to safety. He also underscored the importance of protecting vulnerable people, particularly children, who may be exposed to extreme danger during kidnapping incidents.

Despite his criticism, Sani acknowledged what he described as progress in the security situation across Kaduna State, crediting the state government’s efforts. However, he maintained that the reported incident demonstrated the need for continued vigilance and stronger action against banditry and other violent crimes.

The video has renewed concerns about the risks faced by families in areas affected by insecurity in northern Nigeria. The apparent presence of an infant in the footage has also heightened concerns about the vulnerability of children caught up in abductions.

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