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The Federal Government has dismissed allegations by former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, that it pays ransom or offers incentives to bandits.
El-Rufai, in an interview on Sunday, August 31, claimed that the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) was behind a policy of making payments to criminals.
In a statement released on Monday, September 1, in Abuja, ONSA described the allegation as false and unfounded.
The statement, signed by Zakari Mijinyawa, reiterated that the Tinubu administration has never engaged in such practices and has consistently cautioned citizens against ransom payments.
ONSA highlighted ongoing military operations that have neutralized notorious bandit leaders in Kaduna, such as Boderi, Baleri, Sani Yellow Janburos, Buhari, and Boka.
It also pointed to the recent capture of Ansaru commanders and the sacrifices of fallen security operatives as proof of the government’s determination to restore peace in conflict-prone areas, including Igabi, Birnin Gwari, and Giwa.
The office further urged political leaders to avoid dragging security institutions into partisan disputes, stressing that the fight against banditry is a shared national responsibility, not a political contest.
“The attention of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has been drawn to comments made by the former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, in a television interview on Sunday. In that interview, he alleged, falsely, that the ONSA coordinates a policy of payments and offers incentives to bandits,” the statement read.
“This claim is baseless. 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,” ONSA said.
“The efforts of our gallant military and security agencies in capturing or eliminating notorious bandits have been widely reported in the media. In Kaduna alone, known kingpins as who once terrorised residents such as Boderi, Baleri, Sani Yellow Janburos, Buhari and Boka, among others, were eliminated. Only recently, leaders of Ansaru who previously established bases in Kaduna were apprehended.
“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.
“We urge El-Rufai and all political actors to desist from dragging national security institutions into partisan battles.
“The fight against banditry is a collective struggle, not a platform for political point-scoring,” ONSA added.
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