The Kaduna State Government has rejected allegations by former governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai that the current administration authorised a N1 billion payment to bandits, describing the claims as baseless and politically motivated.
El-Rufai, in a recent television interview, alleged that Governor Uba Sani’s administration paid ransom to criminal groups operating in the state.
Responding, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Sule Shu’aibu, said the claims were “a fabrication devoid of context, substance, or credibility” and intended to mislead the public.
“Governor Uba Sani has never paid, authorised the payment, or negotiated with bandits. He does not know any bandits, has never met them, and has never disbursed a single naira to criminal groups,” the statement said.
The government noted that the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, had previously dismissed similar claims as unfounded and inconsistent with national security realities, adding that the federal government does not pay ransom to criminal organisations.
Authorities also highlighted that Kaduna’s community-based security strategy has earned praise from security agencies, civil society groups, and grassroots organisations such as the Birnin-Gwari Vanguard for Security and Good Governance, which reportedly refuted El-Rufai’s claims.
The statement challenged El-Rufai to provide evidence, such as bank documents, security briefs, internal memos, or admissible testimony, to support his allegations, recalling that similar claims in September 2025 went unsubstantiated.
The government gave him a one-week deadline to retract his comments and issue an apology, warning of possible legal action if he fails to comply.
Kaduna authorities said the reopening of schools, markets, and farmlands in previously affected communities reflects ongoing improvements in security, credited to coordinated efforts between security agencies and community engagement.
“Kaduna State remains committed to transparent governance, accountable security management, and protection of its citizens. We will not be derailed by orchestrated falsehoods,” the statement concluded.
