Former Governor Nasir El-Rufai and Kaduna Governor Senator Uba Sani have spat over reports that N1 billion was surreptitiously paid to bandits as ransom.
El-Rufai accused the current Kaduna government, led by Senator Uba Sani, of secretly paying bandits N1 billion during an interview with Channels Television.
According to El-Rufai, it was the first time a school was attacked and students were taken during Uba Sani’s term.
“They pay the bandits. They paid them a billion naira the first time… If the governor or anyone in government disagrees, let them come out to deny it. We have the evidence and proof,” El-Rufai declared bluntly.
He also criticized the Office of the National Security Adviser’s (ONSA) national “non-kinetic” policy, describing it as a “kiss-the-bandits” approach that provides criminals with cash and supplies.
Despite allegations of media repression, El-Rufai asserted that villagers in Kaduna, Katsina, and Zamfara know the truth.
However, the Kaduna State Government dismissed former Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai’s claim that the administration of Governor Uba Sani paid ₦1 billion to robbers, citing political motivations.
The government described it as false and designed to jeopardize the state’s current security achievement.
In a statement made on Sunday, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Hon. (Dr.) Sule Shu’aibu, SAN, stated that the assertion was “a fabrication devoid of context, substance, or credibility,” accusing the former governor of misleading the people.
The administration chastised El-Rufai for “recklessly weaponizing sensitive security matters for political grandstanding,” adding such behavior is unworthy of a previous leader.
Shu’aibu emphasized that Governor Uba Sani has never approved, negotiated, or paid a ransom to any criminal organization.
“Not one naira.” “Not one kobo,” he said, stressing that the governor has constantly clarified this in media interviews and stakeholder meetings.
The statement cited the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), which had previously condemned El-Rufai’s identical assertions as unsubstantiated and incompatible with national security norms.
ONSA has stated that neither the federal nor state governments pay ransoms to criminal elements.
Outlining its security plan, the government stated that it will pursue a community-focused model based on increased military operations, collaboration with legitimate community leaders, and greater access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities.
The State works with communities, not bandits,” the statement underscored.
The government also cited previous charges made by senior officials of El-Rufai’s administration that he exploited public monies to pacify particular groups, describing his latest accusations as “deeply paradoxical.”
