Abuja, 1 September 2025 — The federal government, through the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), has officially responded to claims made by former Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. Appearing in a television interview on Sunday, El-Rufai asserted that the current administration, under President Bola Tinubu, had adopted a policy of paying ransoms, allowances, and even providing food to bandits in the name of a “non-kinetic” security strategy. “It’s a national policy driven by the Office of the National Security Adviser, and Kaduna is part of it,” he said, referring dismissively to it as a “kiss the bandits” approach. He added, “What I will not do is pay bandits, give them a monthly allowance, or send food to them… We’re empowering bandits.
ONSA was swift in its rebuttal. In a statement released Monday in Abuja and signed by Zakari Mijinyawa, the agency characterized the allegations as “baseless.” The statement emphasized: “At no time has the ONSA, or any arm of government under this administration, engaged in ransom payments or inducements to criminals.
ON THE CONTRARY, the government emphasized its dual-track strategy. On one hand, it has conducted decisive kinetic operations targeting bandit strongholds; on the other, it has engaged communities to address local grievances. ONSA highlighted recent successes—particularly in Kaduna State—where the decimation of notorious bandit kingpins—including Boderi, Baleri, Sani Yellow Janburos, Buhari, and Boka—underscores the results of the government’s forceful approach. Additionally, it cited the arrests of Ansaru group leaders as further proof of its resolve.
The statement also paid tribute to the sacrifices made by security personnel in restoring peace: “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 the memories of our security personnel.
Finally, ONSA issued a pointed appeal to political actors—including El-Rufai—to refrain from politicizing national security agendas: “The fight against banditry is a collective struggle, not a platform for political point-scoring.
Why This Matters
Frontline security remains a pressing concern across regions like Kaduna, Katsina, and Zamfara. Accusations such as El-Rufai’s—that the government is effectively rewarding criminality—are bound to fuel public skepticism. Meanwhile, ONSA’s rebuttal leans on tangible security gains—targeted operations, arrests, and regained stability in once-volatile communities—as evidence that governance under this administration favors force over appeasement.