The Nigerian government rejects El-Rufai’s claim for payment to Bandit as an unfounded

The federal government has rejected claims by the former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, for payment of money to bandits in northwest.

El-Rufai, while speaking in television politics Channels today on Sunday, accused the federal government of pursuing what he called the “kiss-bandit” strategy.

He claimed that government officials gave compensation of armed groups instead of facing them militarily.

The former governor believes that the “non-cinetic” approach only functions to dare the criminals.

However, in a statement issued on Monday an officer at the National Security Advisory Office (Onsa), Zakari Mijnyawa, described the accusation as unfounded and not consistent with the facts that could be verified.

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He stressed that both Onsa and government arms under the current government were never involved in payment of financial ransoms or financial persuasion for criminal groups.

Mijnyawa notes that government policy always prevents ransom payments and warns Nigerians against such practices.

He stated that El-Rufai’s statement was unfair to commemorate security personnel who had lost their lives in the war against the bandits.

“There has never been any administrative time to endorse a ransom payment or persuasion to the criminal,” the statement said.

“From the beginning, the government adopted a dual strategy, a decisive military operation combined with community involvement to overcome local complaints.

“The results were seen in Igabi, Birnin Gwari, Giwa, and other parts of Kaduna who had previously experienced severe insecurity but now enjoy relative peace.”