From Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna
A Kaduna-based group, Concerned Kaduna Citizen, has dismissed as baseless and politically motivated allegations made by former Governor Nasir El-Rufai that the current administration, led by Governor Uba Sani, paid N1 billion to bandits.
Addressing a press conference at the NUJ Secretariat in Kaduna group’s convener, Abdulrashid Teslim, described El-Rufai’s claims as “unfounded and intended to tarnish the image of the current administration.”
Teslim stated that the Kaduna State Government, under Governor Sani, has not made any payment to bandits, and that the administration remains committed to the rule of law, responsible governance, and transparency in all its dealings.
He noted that El-Rufai’s statement was a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and sow distrust in the government’s efforts to address insecurity in the state.
“Kaduna State experienced its highest rate of killings and insecurity under the administration of Malam Nasir El-Rufai,” Teslim said.
“Unlike during the tenures of former Governors such as Senator Ahmed Makarfi, Arc. Namadi Sambo, and Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, when the state maintained a relatively stable security environment, El-Rufai’s era was marked by deep divisions, violence, and a breakdown of communal trust.”
The group aligned itself with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), which had earlier denied any payment of ransom by the Kaduna State Government or any other government entity.
Teslim urged El-Rufai to refrain from making unsubstantiated statements that undermine the integrity of the state’s security architecture and the confidence of the public in governance.
The statement read, “We call on the media, civil society, and well-meaning Nigerians to remain vigilant and not fall for political gimmicks aimed at derailing progress. We stand firmly behind Governor Uba Sani’s commitment to peace, transparency, and justice.”
Governor Sani’s administration has been working to address insecurity in the state through community-based peacebuilding, intelligence-led operations, and socio-economic interventions.
The administration has maintained a clear policy of “no negotiation, no payments, and no dealings with bandits – only lawful engagement.”