The Kaduna State Government has strongly dismissed claims by former governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai that the current administration paid ₦1 billion to bandits.
The government described the allegation as “astonishing, baseless, and politically motivated,” stressing that it lacks any factual foundation.
El-Rufai had made the allegation during a television interview, accusing the Uba Sani administration of paying ransom to criminal groups in the state. In response, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Sule Shu’aibu (SAN), said the former governor’s comments were “a fabrication devoid of context, substance, or credibility.” He added that the remarks were meant to “mislead the public, inflame passions, and undermine the progress the current administration has made in restoring peace across Kaduna State.”
The Kaduna government faulted El-Rufai for what it described as “recklessly weaponising an issue as sensitive as security.” It emphasized that leadership at his level requires truthfulness and restraint, and stressed that Governor Uba Sani “has never paid, authorised the payment, or approved negotiations” with bandits. The statement added that the governor “does not know any bandits, has never met them, and has never disbursed a single naira or kobo” to criminal groups.
The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) had previously dismissed similar claims by El-Rufai, describing them as “unfounded and disconnected from national security realities.” The Kaduna government reiterated that the Federal Government does not pay ransom to criminal organisations as a matter of policy, further undermining the credibility of the former governor’s statements.
Kaduna State also highlighted the success of its community-focused security strategy, which has received commendation from security agencies, civil society groups, and international partners. Grassroots organisations such as the Birnin-Gwari Vanguard for Security and Good Governance, whose communities suffered during El-Rufai’s tenure, have similarly refuted his claims. The government also noted that some senior officials from El-Rufai’s administration had previously accused him of financial dealings with bandits and herders.
In a stern warning, the state government challenged El-Rufai to provide “credible evidence bank documents, security briefs, internal memos, or admissible testimony” to support his claims. It recalled that he failed to present proof after making similar allegations in September 2025. The government has given him a one-week ultimatum to retract his statements and apologise to the people of Kaduna, warning that legal action would follow if he refuses. Meanwhile, it reaffirmed that security improvements are ongoing, with schools, markets, and farmlands reopening due to better coordination among security agencies and community engagement.
