ONSA dismisses El-Rufai’s claims of ransom payments to bandits

The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has rejected allegations by former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, that the Federal Government offers payments and incentives to bandits.

In a press statement issued on Monday in Abuja, ONSA described the claims made by El-Rufai during a television interview on Sunday as “baseless” and contrary to verifiable facts.

“At no time has the ONSA, or any arm of government under this administration, engaged in ransom payments or inducements to criminals,” the statement read, adding that the government has consistently warned Nigerians against paying ransom.

According to ONSA, the Federal Government’s strategy combines decisive military operations with community engagement, a dual approach it says has brought relative peace to Kaduna communities once ravaged by insecurity, including Igabi, Birnin Gwari, and Giwa.

The statement highlighted several recent security successes, including the elimination of notorious bandit leaders such as Boderi, Baleri, Sani Yellow Janburos, Buhari and Boka, as well as the arrest of Ansaru commanders who had previously established bases in Kaduna.

“These successes came at a cost, with some of our brave officers paying the supreme price,” ONSA noted.

“For a former governor to deny these sacrifices on national television is both unfair and deeply insulting to the memories of our security personnel.”

The NSA’s office urged El-Rufai and other political figures to avoid dragging national security institutions into partisan disputes, stressing that the fight against banditry should be treated as a collective national effort, not a tool for political point-scoring.

The statement was signed by Zakari Mijinyawa on behalf of the Office of the National Security Adviser.