The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has dismissed allegations by former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, that the Office of the NSA was behind the payment of ransom and incentives to armed bandits.
In a statement issued on Monday by Zakari Mijinyawa, Adviser in the Office of the NSA, Ribadu described El-Rufai’s remarks as false and baseless. The statement said the former governor’s claim, made during a television interview on Sunday, was contrary to verifiable facts.
“At no time has the ONSA, or any arm of government under this administration, engaged in ransom payments or inducements to criminals,” the statement read.
According to the NSA, rather than pay bandits, the government has consistently warned Nigerians against ransom payments while pursuing a dual approach of decisive military operations and community engagement to tackle insecurity.
Ribadu pointed to recent security gains in Kaduna communities such as Igabi, Birnin Gwari, and Giwa, which had previously been under the grip of bandits but are now enjoying relative peace.
He noted that the armed forces and security agencies have recorded significant successes, including the elimination of notorious bandit leaders like Boderi, Baleri, Sani Yellow Janburos, Buhari, and Boka. He added that leaders of the terrorist group Ansaru, who once had strongholds in Kaduna, have also been captured.
“These successes came at a cost, as some of our brave officers paid the supreme price,” the NSA said. “For a former governor to deny these sacrifices on national television is unfair and insulting to the memories of our fallen heroes.”
Ribadu urged El-Rufai and other political actors to avoid politicising security matters, stressing that the fight against banditry requires collective commitment rather than partisanship.