Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has dismissed allegations that his administration paid money to bandits, describing the claims as “political mischief.”
The governor made the remarks on Sunday while responding to ex-Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who accused both the Federal Government and Kaduna State government of funding armed groups under the guise of a “non-kinetic” security approach.
El-Rufai had, in an interview on August 31, alleged that the government was pursuing what he called a “kiss-the-bandits policy,” involving monthly allowances and food supplies for criminal gangs.
“What I will not do is to pay bandits, give them a monthly allowance, or send food to them in the name of non-kinetic. It’s nonsense; we’re empowering bandits.
But Sani faulted the claim, insisting that his government has never offered financial inducements to criminals.
He maintained that the Kaduna model, which is anchored on empowerment, root-cause solutions, and trust-buildin, remains a viable template for tackling banditry across the North-West.
The governor explained that unlike the North-East, where insurgency has ideological roots, insecurity in Kaduna and the wider North-West is largely economically driven.
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According to him, the state’s non-kinetic approach complements military operations by boosting rural governance, reviving farming livelihoods, and strengthening community trust.
“When we started this Kaduna model, many thought we would not succeed. But today, it is a success story. Security chiefs across Nigeria have openly commended it and called for its adoption in other states,” he added.
Sani, who pointed to improvements in troubled areas like Birnin Gwari, accused some political actors in the state of exploiting insecurity for partisan gain.
“Some politicians are only trying to misguide and misinform the public for political points. But in Kaduna, nobody has paid a naira. We were elected to solve problems, not to blame others,” he said.
The Office of the National Security Adviser has also rejected El-Rufai’s allegations, describing them as “false, baseless, and insulting.”
ONSA stressed that no government under the current administration has approved ransom payments or incentives for armed groups, adding that the national security framework combines military operations with community engagement.
El-Rufai, however, has stood by his position, accusing both ONSA and the Kaduna government of politicising security to evade scrutiny.
Punch
