El-Rufai Accuses FG of Paying Bandits — What We Know So Far

Former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai alleged in a televised interview that the Federal Government is “empowering bandits” under a non-kinetic strategy. 

He claimed armed groups receive monthly allowances and food supplies and described the approach as a “kiss-the-bandits” policy he said was driven from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

The ONSA publicly rejected the claims as false and baseless, saying no arm of the administration pays ransom or offers inducements to criminals. Officials restated that the security posture combines kinetic operations with community engagement—but not cash or material support to bandits.

Why this matters

If the allegation were true, state payments could encourage more kidnappings and raids. If it is false, the claim risks undermining public trust in counter-terror policy and the agencies running it. 

Either way, the exchange reopens the debate over how far government should go with amnesty, dialogue and other “soft” measures versus force-led crackdowns in the North-West and North-Central.

What “non-kinetic” means here

Successive administrations have used the term to describe tactics like community outreach, deradicalisation, safe-corridor programmes and negotiated surrenders. El-Rufai’s core charge is that today’s non-kinetic track allegedly crosses a red line into regular payments and supplies. 

The government says that is not happening. The difference is not semantic; it goes to legality, accountability and deterrence.

As of now, El-Rufai has not made documentary evidence public to support the claim of routine payments. The ONSA’s categorical denial is on record. Any shift from allegation to proof would require documents, money trails or whistle-blower testimony,none of which has been presented in public.

The charge lands amid persistent insecurity and public frustration with kidnappings, rural raids and highway attacks. It also comes as Abuja touts ongoing operations against bandit leaders, making the allegation especially sensitive for security agencies who argue that payments would undercut active offensives.

Source: BusinessElitesAfrica | Read the Full Story…