Three months after thieves allegedly stole a vehicle belonging to a journalist during the All Progressives Congress (APC) State Congress in Bauchi, the party has remained silent on the incident, according to the affected reporter.
The journalist, Mr. Khalid Idris Doya, a correspondent with Leadership Newspapers, said his vehicle was stolen on March 3, 2026, while he was covering the APC State Congress at the party’s secretariat along Maiduguri Road in Bauchi.
According to Doya, he attended the congress following an official invitation from the party to cover the event as part of the media team. He explained that he arrived at the venue with his Toyota Pontiac Vibe 2004 model, bearing Plate Number BAU-100HB and Chassis Number 5Y2SL62833Z408918.
The journalist said he parked the vehicle within the vicinity of the congress venue between 4:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. while the event was ongoing.
However, he discovered after the programme that unknown persons had allegedly stolen the vehicle.
Doya stated that he immediately reported the matter to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of A Division, Central Market, Bauchi. He noted that despite reporting the theft to security agencies and making efforts to recover the vehicle, there has been no information regarding its whereabouts.
“Despite these efforts and reports made to the relevant security authorities, there has so far been no information regarding the whereabouts of the vehicle,” he said.
The journalist further disclosed that he informed the leadership of the APC in Bauchi about the incident through both verbal communication and written correspondence.
According to him, more than three months after the incident, the party has neither publicly sympathised with him nor offered any form of compensation.
The development has generated discussion among media stakeholders, with some calling for greater support and protection for journalists who cover political activities and public events.
Media observers say journalists often face risks while carrying out their professional duties, including security threats, harassment, and loss of personal property.
They argue that organisations and institutions that invite journalists to official assignments should show concern when incidents affecting media personnel occur during such engagements.
As of the time of filing this report, the APC in Bauchi State had not publicly responded to the journalist’s claims.
The disappearance of the vehicle remains unresolved more than three months after the APC State Congress in Bauchi. While investigations continue, the affected journalist says he is still awaiting sympathy, support, or a response from the party regarding the loss he suffered while carrying out his professional assignment.
