The National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu has dismissed claims made by former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai that the Federal Government is pampering bandits and offering them incentives.
In a fresh interview with Channels TV, El-Rufai had alleged that the Office of the NSA (ONSA) coordinates a policy of payments to criminal groups.
The former governor alleged that the NSA’s office has a programme that enables bandits by paying, feeding and pampering them as part of the administration’s non-kinetic approach to addressing insecurity.
“What I will not do is to pay bandits, give them a monthly allowance, or send food to them in the name of non-kinetic. It’s not the government of Kaduna State; it’s a national policy driven by the Office of the National Security Adviser, and Kaduna is part of it. Kiss the bandits; that’s the new policy.”
However in a statement released, Ribadu’s office described the allegation as “false, baseless, and deeply insulting to the sacrifices of Nigeria’s security forces.”Nigerian fashion trends
“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.”he said
The ONSA said the government adopted from the outset a dual approach of “decisive kinetic operations alongside community engagements aimed at addressing local grievances.”
The outcome, it said, is now visible in places like Igabi, Birnin Gwari and Giwa local governments of Kaduna, which were once plagued by bandit violence but are “now experiencing relative peace.” The NSA’s office cited the elimination of notorious bandit leaders including Boderi, Baleri, Sani Yellow Janburos, Buhari and Boka, as well as the dismantling of Ansaru terror bases in Kaduna and the arrest of their leaders.
“These successes came at a cost. Some of our brave officers paid the supreme price. For a former governor of a state in person of El-Rufai to deny these sacrifices on national television is both unfair and deeply insulting to the memories of our security personnel.”the ONSA said