The Office of the National Security Adviser has denied allegations made by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, that the office coordinates a policy of payments and incentives to bandits.
In a statement signed by Zakari Mijinyawa, the ONSA described El-Rufai’s claims as “baseless” and “false.” The office maintained that it has consistently warned Nigerians against paying ransom to criminals.
“We urge El-Rufai and all political actors to desist from dragging national security institutions into partisan battles,” the statement read. “The fight against banditry is a collective struggle, not a platform for political point-scoring.”
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When contacted for a response, El-Rufai’s camp had yet to comment.
The ONSA highlighted the successes recorded in the fight against banditry, including the elimination of notorious bandits in Kaduna State. “Known kingpins such as Boderi, Baleri, Sani Yellow Janburos, Buhari, and Boka, among others, were eliminated,” the statement noted.
Mijinyawa added, “These successes came at a cost, some of our brave officers paid the supreme price. For a former governor to deny these sacrifices on national television is both unfair and deeply insulting to the memories of our security personnel.”