The Kaduna State Government has issued a firm and unprecedented rebuttal to what it describes as the “astonishing, baseless, and politically-motivated” allegation made by former Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, who claimed in a Channels Television interview that the current administration paid ₦1 billion to bandits.
The government’s response, delivered through the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Hon. (Dr.) Sule Shu’aibu, SAN, is a decisive pushback against what it calls an attempt to inflame public sentiment and destabilise the remarkable recovery taking place across the state under Governor Uba Sani, CON.
A “Fabrication Without Evidence”— Kaduna Govt Reacts With Unusual Force
The statement leaves no ambiguity: the allegation is false, unfounded, and politically charged.
Officials described El-Rufai’s claim as a dangerous distortion designed to mislead the public and to “erode the progress being made to restore peace” throughout Kaduna State.
> “This claim is not merely inaccurate; it is a fabrication devoid of context, substance, or credibility,” the government declared.
The tone reflects the seriousness of the accusation. Banditry has cost lives, displaced communities, and ravaged entire local economies. To accuse a sitting administration of financing criminal elements is not just political provocation — it strikes at the heart of public trust.
A Former Governor’s “Reckless Weaponisation” of Security Issues
The Kaduna Government expressed disappointment that a former governor — one expected to embody restraint and statesmanship — would “recklessly weaponise” a matter as sensitive as security.
The statement notes:
True leadership demands sobriety, not sensationalism.
Security is too critical to be exploited for political theatre.
Kaduna deserves elders who build, not actors who inflame.
This reaction underscores the shock within government circles that an ex-governor, with full knowledge of security complexities, would resort to what the administration deems public incitement masquerading as commentary.
Governor Uba Sani’s Position: “Not One Naira, Not One Kobo”
Governor Uba Sani has consistently denied authorising any payments to criminal actors:
He has never met a bandit.
He has never negotiated with them.
He has never authorised any ransom, inducement, or covert funding.
The government emphasised that these declarations have been made openly in interviews, town halls, security briefings, and stakeholder engagements.
The administration notes that its security strategy is community-centred, grounded in:
Intensive military and intelligence-led operations
Strengthened collaboration with lawful community leaders
Expanding education, healthcare, and livelihood access
Eliminating the root causes of banditry without empowering criminal networks
In short: Kaduna engages communities — never bandits.
ONSA Already Debunked El-Rufai Months Ago
Crucially, the Kaduna Government reminded the public that the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Nigeria’s highest internal security authority, had earlier dismissed similar allegations from El-Rufai as:
Inaccurate
Unfounded
Disconnected from national security realities
ONSA also reiterated that no federal or state government pays ransom to criminal organisations as a matter of policy or practice.
With the nation’s top security body contradicting him, the Kaduna Government argues that El-Rufai stands isolated in his claims.
Communities and Ex-Officials Challenge His Credibility
The government’s statement highlights two critical points:
■ Communities hardest hit during El-Rufai’s tenure — such as Birnin Gwari — have openly refuted his claims, calling them distortions.
■ Senior officials who served under him have previously accused his administration of making payments to bandits and herders, creating a paradox in his present posture.
This raises questions about motive:
Why would a former governor project onto a successor an allegation many once directed at him?
Kaduna Today: Renewed Confidence, Reopened Schools, and Stabilised Corridors
Since assuming office, Governor Uba Sani has prioritised restoring security:
Schools and markets once abandoned have reopened.
Security agencies operate with fresh coordination.
Military and intelligence collaboration has deepened.
Communities long fractured by fear are recovering trust.
The statement urges those who governed during Kaduna’s most turbulent years to show humility and allow the state’s healing process to continue uninterrupted.
Government Issues 7-Day Ultimatum: Show Proof or Apologise
In a decisive move, the state government has demanded that El-Rufai produce “even a fragment” of evidence:
Bank documents
Internal memos
Security records
Legally admissible testimony
If he fails to retract and apologise within seven days, the government will pursue appropriate legal action.
A New Era of Responsible Security Governance
The statement concludes powerfully:
> “The era of sensational claims without evidence has passed. A new era, marked by responsible, principled, and effective security governance, has taken root.”
It positions the current administration as transparent, accountable, and focused on building peace — and frames the allegation as an attempt to drag Kaduna backwards into a climate of fear and mistrust.
The Real Issue: Protecting Kaduna’s Hard-Won Progress
This episode highlights a deeper message:
Kaduna is navigating its way out of years of insecurity, and politically-motivated misinformation risks undermining that effort.
For many observers, the government’s robust response signals a refusal to let old rivalries derail the progress being made — and a determination to confront misinformation wherever it appears.
Dr. G. Fraser. MFR
The National Patriots.
Headlinenews.news Special Investigative Report.
