The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has dismissed accusations made by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, that the federal government pays or rewards bandits.

In a statement released on Monday and signed by Zakari Mijinyawa, ONSA described the claims as false, adding that no part of the government has ever offered ransom or incentives to criminals.

The office stressed that it has always warned Nigerians against paying ransom to kidnappers and said El-Rufai’s position does not align with the facts on ground.

According to ONSA, the current administration is tackling insecurity with a two-way strategy—military operations alongside community engagement to resolve local grievances.

It explained that this approach has reduced violence in areas of Kaduna such as Igabi, Birnin Gwari, and Giwa, which now enjoy relative peace.

The statement commended the sacrifices of security agencies, noting that notorious criminals like Boderi, Baleri, Sani Yellow Janburos, Buhari, and Boka have been taken down, while leaders of Ansaru who once operated in the state were also captured.

It added that these successes came at a heavy price, as some officers lost their lives in the process.

ONSA faulted El-Rufai’s remarks, describing them as unfair and disrespectful to the memory of security personnel who died in the fight against bandits.

The office further appealed to political leaders to avoid turning national security into a political debate, stressing that the fight against banditry is a shared responsibility.

El-Rufai had earlier alleged that the federal government was secretly paying bandits to stop them from killing citizens, a claim ONSA has now strongly rejected.