Eshiorameh Sebastian in Abuja
The Kaduna State Government has issued a one-week ultimatum to former Governor Nasir El-Rufai to retract and apologise for what it terms his “astonishing and politically charged allegations” that the state paid one billion naira to bandits.
The ultimatum was contained in a statement released issued on Sunday by the state’s Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Sule Shu’aibu.
The statement asserted that Mr El-Rufai’s claim, made during a recent interview on Channels Television, was “not merely inaccurate; it is a fabrication devoid of context, substance, or credibility.”
The statement outlined the government’s position that the former governor’s remarks were a deliberate attempt to mislead the public. “Its intent is transparent: to mislead the public, inflame passions, and erode the remarkable progress being made to restore peace and communal resilience across our State,” the commissioner stated.
He expressed disappointment in the former governor’s conduct. “For a former governor, one who ought to embody the sobriety and restraint of a statesman, to recklessly weaponise an issue as sensitive as security for political grandstanding is a disservice to the very people he once led,” Dr. Shu’aibu said.
The commissioner reiterated Governor Uba Sani’s consistent denial of such payments. “His Excellency, Governor Uba Sani, has consistently, repeatedly, and unequivocally affirmed in public fora that this administration has never, and would never, pay money to criminal actors.
“He has stated unambiguously that he does not know any bandits, has never met or spoken to them, and has never authorised the negotiation or disbursement of any ransom, allowance, inducement, or covert funding. Not one naira. Not one kobo.”
To bolster its position, the Kaduna government invoked the authority of the federal security apparatus. “The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the apex body steering Nigeria’s internal security coordination, has publicly dismissed similar allegations previously made by El-Rufai. ONSA described those claims as unfounded, inaccurate, and disconnected from the realities of national security operations,” the statement read.
It further emphasised the state’s current security strategy, which it says is yielding results. “The present Kaduna State Government is driving a community-centred peace and security strategy that has earned commendations from citizens, security agencies, international partners, and civil society. The initiative addresses the root causes of insecurity: poverty, marginalisation, and historical grievances, without extending legitimacy or resources to criminals. The State engages communities, not bandits.”
The statement also highlighted that grassroots groups in areas heavily affected by banditry have refuted Mr El-Rufai’s claims. Furthermore, it pointed a finger back at the former governor, noting, “It is equally noteworthy that senior figures from El-Rufai’s own former administration have, in the past, accused him of deploying public funds to placate certain individuals, including bandits and herders. These allegations, which he alone must confront, render his newfound posture of moral outrage deeply paradoxical.”
The government concluded by directly challenging the former governor to provide proof and setting a firm deadline. “If former Governor El-Rufai possesses even a fragment of credible evidence; bank documents, internal memos, security briefings, or legally admissible testimony, he is invited to make it public. After his previous unsubstantiated allegations in September 2025, no such proof has materialised.”
“For disseminating misinformation on a matter as grave as security, El-Rufai owes the people of Kaduna a sincere and unreserved apology. Should he fail to retract his comments and apologise within one week, the State Government will take appropriate legal measures to safeguard public order and institutional integrity.”
The statement affirmed that “Kaduna State remains unwavering in its commitment to transparent governance, accountable security management, and the protection of every citizen.
“We will not be derailed by the politics of bitterness, fearmongering, or orchestrated falsehoods.” It declared that “the era of sensational claims without evidence has passed,” and “a new era, marked by responsible, principled, and effective security governance, has since begun and taken roots.”
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