The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has dismissed as false and baseless allegations made by former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, that the federal government is paying bandits or offering them incentives.
In a statement released on Monday in Abuja, ONSA described El-Rufai’s comments during a television interview on Sunday as misleading and an insult to the sacrifices of security personnel who have lost their lives 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.
Instead, the federal government said it has maintained a two-pronged strategy combining kinetic military operations with community engagement to tackle insecurity. ONSA noted that the results are evident in parts of Kaduna State such as Igabi, Birnin Gwari, and Giwa, where relative peace has returned after years of violent attacks.
The statement highlighted major security successes, including the elimination of notorious bandit leaders such as Boderi, Baleri, Sani Yellow Janburos, Buhari, and Boka, while Ansaru leaders who had previously established bases in Kaduna were also apprehended.
“These successes came at a cost, as 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 their memories,” ONSA stressed.
The security office further cautioned politicians against dragging national security institutions into partisan disputes, warning that the fight against banditry should not be reduced to political point-scoring.“The fight against banditry is a collective struggle,” the statement concluded.
The press release was signed by Zakari Mijinyawa on behalf of the National Security Adviser.
