Kaduna Govt Denies N1bn Payment To Bandits, Demands Evidence From El-Rufai
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State
The Kaduna State Government has denied paying N1 billion to bandits as claimed by former Governor of the state, Nasir El-Rufai.
A statement by Sule Shu’aibu, Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, said on Sunday that El-Rufai’s allegations were politically motivated, Kaduna State.
The Syndicate reports that El-Rufai made the claims in a television programme aired by Channels Television, during which he said he would divulge the evidence at the right time.
“This claim is not merely inaccurate; it is a fabrication devoid of context, substance, or credibility. Its intent is transparent: to mislead the public, inflame passions, and erode the remarkable progress being made to restore peace and communal resilience across our State. Such conduct, coming from one who once occupied the highest office in Kaduna, is profoundly disappointin,” the Commissioner stated.
“If former Governor El-Rufai possesses even a fragment of credible evidence; bank documents, internal memos, security briefings, or legally admissible testimony, he is invited to make it public. After his previous unsubstantiated allegations in September 2025, no such proof has materialised. Instead, what has resurfaced is a recycled interview calibrated for renewed public agitation,” Shu’aibu said.
According to him, the former governor ought to embody the sobriety and restraint of a statesman, and not to recklessly weaponise an issue as sensitive as security for political grandstanding.
“His Excellency, Governor Uba Sani, has consistently, repeatedly, and unequivocally affirmed in public fora that this administration has never, and would never, pay money to criminal actors. He has stated unambiguously that he does not know any bandits, has never met or spoken to them, and has never authorised the negotiation or disbursement of any ransom, allowance, inducement, or covert funding. Not one naira. Not one kobo. These declarations have been reinforced through multiple interviews, press briefings, and stakeholder engagements.
“It bears repeating that the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the apex body steering Nigeria’s internal security coordination, has publicly dismissed similar allegations previously made by El-Rufai. ONSA described those claims as unfounded, inaccurate, and disconnected from the realities of national security operations. They emphasised that neither the Federal Government nor any State Government, as a matter of policy or practice, pays ransom to criminal organisations. When the nation’s highest security authority repudiates such assertions, the truth stands unmistakably illuminated.”
The Commissioner explained that the state government has been driving a community-centred peace and security strategy that has earned commendations from citizens, security agencies, international partners, and civil society.
“This strategy is anchored on intensive military and intelligence operations; deepened engagement with lawful community leaders; and expanded access to education, healthcare, and livelihood opportunities. The initiative addresses the root causes of insecurity: poverty, marginalisation, and historical grievances, without extending legitimacy or resources to criminals. The State engages communities, not bandits.
“Grassroots security groups, including the Birnin-Gwari Vanguard for Security and Good Governance, whose communities suffered some of the gravest episodes of banditry during El-Rufai’s tenure, have publicly and courageously refuted his claims, dismissing them as distortions and half-truths. Their lived experience lends their testimony an authenticity far superior to politically convenient narratives.
“It is equally noteworthy that senior figures from El-Rufai’s own former administration have, in the past, accused him of deploying public funds to placate certain individuals, including bandits and herders. These allegations, which he alone must confront, render his newfound posture of moral outrage deeply paradoxical,” Shu’aibu said.
