By Obinna Uballa
The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has dismissed as false and misleading the claim by former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, that the federal government offers payments and incentives to bandits.
In a statement on Monday in Abuja, ONSA spokesperson, Zakari Mijinyawa, said the allegation, which El-Rufai made during a television interview on Sunday, was “baseless” and contradicted verifiable facts.
“At no time has the ONSA, or any arm of government under this administration, engaged in ransom payments or inducements to criminals,” Mijinyawa stated. “On the contrary, we have consistently warned Nigerians against paying ransom.”
The NSA’s office described the former governor’s comments as “unfair” and an “insult” to security personnel who have paid the ultimate price in the fight against terrorism and banditry.
According to the statement, the current administration has implemented a dual strategy- which entails combining decisive military operations with community engagements-to address local grievances.
It said this approach has led to improved security in several parts of Kaduna State, including Igabi, Birnin Gwari, and Giwa.
The ONSA further highlighted recent successes, noting that several notorious bandit leaders have been killed or arrested, including figures such as Boderi, Baleri, Sani Yellow Janburos, Buhari, and Boka. It added that leaders of the Ansaru group who once operated in Kaduna have also been apprehended.
“These successes came at a cost, as some of our brave officers paid the supreme price,” the statement read. “For a former governor like 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 it was using the opportunity to urge political actors to refrain from dragging national security institutions into partisan controversies, warning that the fight against banditry should not be turned into a platform for political point-scoring.
