ONSA replies el-Rufai, says FG not paying bandits

The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has dismissed allegations by Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna, that the agency coordinates ransom payments and incentives to bandits.

In an interview on Sunday, el-Rufai alleged that the federal government is paying bandits to dissuade them from killing Nigerians.

He criticised what he described as a misguided “non-kinetic” approach to insecurity, alleging that officials are paying and feeding bandits rather than eliminating them.

“What I will not do is to pay bandits, give them a monthly allowance or send food to them. Non-kinetic is nonsense. We are empowering bandits. That’s what is going on,” el-Rufai said.

“It’s a national policy… many states are objecting to it. But that is the policy now.

“My position has always been that the only repentant bandit is a dead one. Let’s wipe them out, bomb them, reduce them to nothing. And then the five percent that still want to be rehabilitated can be rehabilitated.”

‘BASELESS CLAIM’

In a statement signed by Zakari Mijinyawa, ONSA’s head of strategic communications, the office described the claim as baseless and false, noting that neither the agency nor any government arm has engaged in ransom payments or inducements to criminals.

“On the contrary, we have consistently warned Nigerians against paying ransom,” the statement said, adding that el-Rufai’s allegations contradict verifiable facts on the 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.”

Mijinyawa said the government’s approach to tackling banditry combines decisive military operations with community engagement to address local grievances.

He highlighted the successes of security agencies in capturing or eliminating notorious bandits, including kingpins like Boderi, Baleri, Sani Yellow Janburos, Buhari, and Boka.

“Only recently, leaders of Ansaru who previously established bases in Kaduna were apprehended,” the statement added.

Mijinyawa condemned el-Rufai’s “denial of the sacrifices made by security personnel” as “unfair and insulting to their memory”.

The statement urged the former governor to refrain from politicising national security institutions, emphasising that the fight against banditry is a collective one and not a platform for political point-scoring.