The Federal Government, represented by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), has rejected assertions made by Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna, claiming that the government provides incentives to bandits.
During a television interview on Sunday, El-RufaiEl-Rufai accused the ONSA of orchestrating a policy that involves compensating criminals. However, in a statement released on Monday, Zakari Mijinyawa, the ONSA spokesperson, labeled these allegations as untrue.
“At no point has the ONSA, nor any branch of this administration, engaged in ransom payments or offered inducements to criminals,” he stated.
Mijinyawa emphasized that the government has consistently advised citizens against paying ransoms to kidnappers. He further highlighted that the administration employs a dual strategy combining military operations with community engagement to combat banditry effectively.
According to him, this approach has resulted in enhanced security in regions such as Igabi, Birnin Gwari, and Giwa in Kaduna State. The ONSA noted the elimination of notorious bandits, including Boderi, Baleri, Sani Yellow Janburos, Buhari, and Boka.
Mijinyawa also mentioned the recent apprehension of leaders from Ansaru, a terrorist group that previously operated within Kaduna. He remarked, “These achievements have come at a cost, with some of our courageous officers making the ultimate sacrifice.”
He criticized the former governor for undermining these sacrifices on national television, calling it both unfair and deeply disrespectful to the memories of security personnel.
The ONSA urged El-Rufai and other political leaders to refrain from involving security institutions in partisan conflicts, asserting, “The fight against banditry is a collective endeavor, not a platform for political gain.”
