The Federal Government has strongly refuted claims by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, that it is running a policy of empowering bandits through payments and incentives.
In a statement issued on Monday by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the government described El-Rufai’s comments as unfounded, stressing that no arm of the administration has ever engaged in ransom payments or inducements to criminals.
“Contrary to the former governor’s allegations, the ONSA has never coordinated or implemented any policy of payments or incentives to bandits. Such claims are entirely baseless,” the statement signed by Zakari Mijinyawa for the ONSA read.
The office emphasized that the government has consistently advised Nigerians against paying ransom, insisting that its counter-banditry approach has been built on two pillars: decisive military action and community engagement.
“This strategy has yielded measurable results in areas such as Igabi, Birnin Gwari, Giwa, and other parts of Kaduna State that once groaned under the weight of terror but are now experiencing relative calm.
Recent successes include the capture of notorious leaders of Ansaru who once operated freely in Kaduna,” the statement added.
The ONSA described El-Rufai’s claims as not only misleading but also disrespectful to the sacrifices of Nigerian security forces.
“These gains came at a heavy price — many gallant officers paid the ultimate sacrifice. For a former governor to trivialize their sacrifices on national television is deeply unfair and insulting to their memories. We urge El-Rufai and other political actors to refrain from dragging national security institutions into partisan controversies. The fight against banditry is a collective responsibility, not an avenue for political point-scoring,” it said.
El-Rufai’s “Kiss-the-Bandits” Criticism
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, El-Rufai had accused the Federal Government of adopting what he described as a “kiss-the-bandits policy,” alleging that bandits were being paid monthly stipends and supplied food under the guise of non-kinetic engagement.
“What I will never do is pay bandits or give them monthly allowances. Sending food to them in the name of non-kinetic engagement is nonsense — it only empowers criminals,” El-Rufai declared.
The former governor maintained that only a hardline military approach could solve the problem, insisting that negotiating with or rehabilitating bandits only fuels insecurity.
“My position has always been clear: the only repentant bandit is a dead one. Kill them all, bomb them until nothing is left, and then we can rehabilitate the few who surrender. You don’t negotiate from a position of weakness, and you don’t fund your enemy to buy more weapons. That’s why insecurity persists,” he argued.
El-Rufai added that no amount of “government propaganda” could conceal the reality known to residents of Kaduna, Zamfara, and Katsina who live daily with the consequences of banditry.
