The Kaduna State Government has delivered a sharp and emphatic rejection of former governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai’s claim that the current administration paid \text{N}1 billion to bandits, branding the assertion as “astonishing, baseless, and politically motivated.”
The public dispute erupted after Mallam El-Rufai alleged, during a recent television interview, that the Governor Uba Sani administration had authorised ransom payments to criminal groups operating within the state.
In a strongly worded official statement released yesterday, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Hon. (Dr.) Sule Shu’aibu, SAN, countered the claims, asserting that the former governor’s words were “a fabrication devoid of context, substance, or credibility.”
The government accused El-Rufai of intending to “mislead the public, inflame passions, and undermine the progress the current administration has made in restoring peace across Kaduna State.” Furthermore, the administration described the allegation as a “reckless misuse of security issues,” stressing that leadership demands restraint and truthfulness, especially concerning sensitive matters like security.
The statement categorically denied any dealings with criminal elements: “Governor Uba Sani has never paid, authorised the payment, or approved negotiations with bandits,” and went on to state that the governor “does not know any bandits, has never met them, and has never disbursed a single naira or kobo” to criminal groups.
To back its firm stance, the Kaduna State Government has issued a one-week ultimatum to the former governor. The administration challenged El-Rufai to produce “credible evidence – bank documents, security briefs, internal memos, or admissible testimony” to substantiate his allegations of a \text{N}1 billion payment.
The government recalled that similar claims made by the former governor in September \text{2025} were not backed by proof. Should El-Rufai fail to retract his comments and tender a public apology to the people of Kaduna State within the week, the government warned it would “take appropriate legal measures.”
The current government also invoked the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), noting that the federal body had previously dismissed El-Rufai’s similar claims as “unfounded and disconnected from national security realities,” aligning with the federal policy not to pay ransom to criminal organisations.
The statement pointed out that the Uba Sani administration’s “community-centred security strategy” has received commendation from security agencies, civil society groups, and international partners. It highlighted that grassroots organisations, including the Birnin-Gwari Vanguard for Security and Good Governance—communities heavily impacted by banditry during El-Rufai’s tenure—have also refuted the claims.
The administration concluded by affirming its commitment to its ongoing security management efforts, stating, “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 politics of bitterness or orchestrated falsehoods.” It noted that security improvements are visible, with schools, markets, and farmlands having reopened in various communities due to enhanced coordination among security agencies and better community engagement.
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Daniel Otera is a dedicated journalist with over four years of experience in reporting, field coverage and fact-checking. He has built a reputation for telling stories with clarity, accuracy and a strong commitment to truth. Daniel’s work focuses on bringing verified information to the public while capturing the real experiences of people on the ground.