The Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, has dismissed claims by the former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, that the Federal Government facilitates payments and inducements to bandits.
According to ONSA, the allegations are unfounded and contradict available evidence on the ground.
In a statement issued on Monday by Zakari Mijinyawa, the office emphasized that neither it nor any government agency has engaged in ransom payments or offered inducements to criminals. It stressed that the administration has consistently warned citizens against such actions.
El-Rufai, during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Sunday, had accused the Federal Government of operating what he described as a “kiss-the-bandits” policy. He alleged that instead of confronting armed groups militarily, the government chose to negotiate and compensate them. He argued that such a “non-kinetic” approach only serves to embolden criminals.
Responding, ONSA described the remarks as unfair to the memory of security operatives who lost their lives in the battle against banditry.
The statement read, “At no time has the ONSA, or any arm of government under this administration, engaged in ransom payments or inducements to criminals.
On the contrary, we have consistently warned Nigerians against paying ransom. El-Rufai’s allegations are not only false but also contradict verifiable facts on ground.
From inception, this government adopted a dual strategy: decisive kinetic operations alongside community engagements aimed at addressing local grievances.
The result is evident in areas such as Igabi, Birnin Gwari, Giwa, and other parts of Kaduna that once suffered untold terror in Kaduna state but are now experiencing relative peace.”
The office further honored the sacrifices of fallen security personnel, describing El-Rufai’s claims as “deeply insulting” to their memory.
ONSA urged El-Rufai and other political figures to refrain from dragging security institutions into partisan conflicts, warning that the fight against banditry should not be exploited for political gain.
