By Peter Omopo
ABUJA – The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has dismissed allegations made by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, that the Federal Government has been coordinating payments and inducements to bandits.
In a statement issued on Monday by Zakari Mijinyawa, ONSA described the claims as false and baseless, insisting that the government has never engaged in ransom payments or incentives to criminal groups.
El-Rufai, speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Sunday, accused the administration of adopting a “kiss-the-bandits” approach, alleging that security agencies negotiate with and compensate armed groups instead of confronting them militarily. He argued that such a policy only serves to empower criminals.
But ONSA countered that the former governor’s remarks were unfair to the memory of security personnel who have died in the fight against banditry.
“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. “On the contrary, we have consistently warned Nigerians against paying ransom. El-Rufai’s allegations are not only false but also contradict verifiable facts on the ground.”
The office explained that the government has since inception adopted a dual strategy: decisive military operations against armed groups, combined with community engagements to address local grievances. It cited improved security in areas such as Igabi, Birnin Gwari, and Giwa in Kaduna State as evidence of progress.
The statement further paid tribute to fallen security personnel, stressing that it was “deeply insulting” for their sacrifices to be undermined on national television.
ONSA urged El-Rufai and other political figures to avoid dragging national security institutions into partisan debates, warning that the war against banditry must not be reduced to political point-scoring.
