Kaduna accuses el-Rufai of attempt to destabilise state

The Kaduna state government has accused Nasir el-Rufai, the former governor, of attempting to destabilise the state through “provocation and manipulation”.

In a statement issued on Monday, Suleiman Shuaibu, commissioner for internal security and home affairs, alleged that el-Rufai was “plotting to unleash mayhem across Kaduna State in a desperate bid to destabilise the state and drag it back into its dark and violent past”.

“This government will not fold its arms and allow a discredited former leader, who left the state in ruins, to ignite chaos and plunge the state into another era of ethno-religious tension, insecurity, and economic stagnation,” the statements.

The government linked el-Rufai’s alleged actions to the outcome of the August 16 by-elections, in which his political allies reportedly suffered significant losses.

Shuaibu said instead of accepting the results, the former governor had “chosen to respond with sabotage”.

The statement also faulted el-Rufai’s recent comments on national television, where he accused both federal and state governments of offering payments to armed groups.

According to Shuaibu, the remarks were “calculated, malicious lies designed to undermine security efforts, incite public anger, and legitimise criminality”.

The commissioner said the position of both the federal and Kaduna governments has remained consistent — that ransom should not be paid to kidnappers, and that security agencies will continue to pursue justice through military operations and community engagement strategies.

“At a time when Governor Uba Sani, in collaboration with the federal government and security agencies, has made commendable strides in restoring security, El-Rufai seeks to discredit those gains and turn Kaduna back into a killing field,” the statement added.

The government noted that Kaduna has moved “from a state at the brink of collapse to one of renewed security, inclusion, and economic recovery”, and said no one would be allowed to derail that progress.