By Muhammad Mamman
The Federal Government, the Kaduna State Government and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) have strongly condemned former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai for his explosive claims on national television, dismissing his remarks as false, inflammatory and divisive.
Appearing on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, El-Rufai accused the government of “empowering bandits” through a so-called “kiss-the-bandits policy”, alleging they were being paid monthly stipends and provided with food under the guise of “non-kinetic measures.” He doubled down on his hard-line stance, insisting:
“The only repentant bandit is a dead one. Let’s bomb them until nothing remains.”
FG: Allegations “Baseless and Insulting”
The Federal Government swiftly rubbished El-Rufai’s claims. In a statement, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) branded his comments “baseless” and a “distortion of verifiable facts.”
“At no time has the ONSA, or any agency under this administration, paid ransom or offered inducements to criminals,” the statement said, noting that security forces had recorded major successes in neutralising notorious bandits in Kaduna and neighbouring states.
“It is both unfair and insulting to the memory of officers who paid the ultimate price for a former governor to deny these sacrifices on national television,” it added, urging politicians to stop weaponising national security for partisan battles.
Kaduna Govt: “El-Rufai Trying to Incite Crisis”
The Kaduna State Government accused El-Rufai of plotting to destabilise the state through “provocation, manipulation and incitement,” particularly after his political allies were trounced in recent by-elections.
Commissioner for Internal Security, Dr Suleiman Shuaibu, said the ex-governor had convened an “illegal and chaotic” political gathering on 30 August which degenerated into violence, yet tried to shift blame to government.
“These reckless claims about governments bribing bandits are calculated lies aimed at fuelling public anger and legitimising criminality,” the commissioner said.
CAN: Remarks on Southern Kaduna “Dangerous and Divisive”
The Christian Association of Nigeria also waded in, condemning El-Rufai’s comment that Southern Kaduna accounts for “less than 25 per cent” of the state’s population.
Reverend John Joseph Hayab, CAN Chairman in the 19 northern states and the FCT, described the remarks as “dangerous and divisive,” recalling that past census figures proved the region’s significant demographic strength.
He warned that such rhetoric risked deepening long-standing tensions in the state.
