The Kaduna State Government has demanded a “sincere and unreserved apology” from former Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai within one week for what it described as the dissemination of “misinformation on a matter as grave as security.” The administration warned that failure to retract his comments would compel it to take legal action to protect public order and institutional integrity.
The warning followed El-Rufai’s claim during a Channels Television interview that the current government, led by Governor Uba Sani, authorised the payment of ₦1 billion to bandits—a statement the State Government has dismissed as politically motivated and entirely without evidence.
In a strongly worded statement signed by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Hon. (Dr.) Sule Shu’aibu, SAN, the government condemned the former governor’s remarks as “astonishing” and “recklessly weaponising an issue as sensitive as security for political grandstanding.”
According to the statement, the allegation “is not merely inaccurate; it is a fabrication devoid of context, substance, or credibility,” crafted to mislead the public and undermine the progress made in restoring peace across the state.
The government recalled that Governor Uba Sani has consistently stated that his administration would never pay money to criminal actors, emphasizing that he has never met, spoken with, or authorised any engagement or financial inducement to bandits. “Not one naira. Not one kobo,” the statement reiterated.
It also referenced earlier dismissals of similar claims by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), which had previously labelled El-Rufai’s allegations as unfounded and contrary to national policy. The Federal Government and state authorities, ONSA affirmed, do not pay ransom to criminal groups.
The statement praised the state’s ongoing community-centred security strategy, which it said has drawn commendation from security agencies, civil society, and international partners. The approach, anchored on military operations, community engagement, and expanded access to social services, focuses on addressing the root causes of insecurity rather than granting legitimacy to criminals.
The government noted that groups such as the Birnin-Gwari Vanguard for Security and Good Governance—drawn from communities that suffered severe banditry during El-Rufai’s tenure—have publicly rejected his claims as distortions and half-truths. It added that senior figures who served under the former governor had in the past accused him of using state funds to placate certain individuals, including bandits and herders, a contradiction it said he must answer for.
Highlighting improvements in security under Governor Uba Sani, the statement pointed to reopened schools, markets, and farmlands, and communities gradually rebuilding trust. It urged those who presided over “some of the most turbulent periods” in Kaduna’s recent history to exercise humility and allow the healing process to continue.
The government challenged El-Rufai to produce any credible evidence—bank documents, memos, security reports, or testimonies—to back his allegation, noting that none had surfaced since he first made similar claims in September 2025.
Reaffirming its commitment to transparent governance and accountable security management, the Kaduna State Government declared that the era of “sensational claims without evidence has passed,” insisting that a new regime of responsible and effective security administration is now firmly in place.
