The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has strongly refuted allegations made by former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, that the Federal Government is giving bandits money and food.

In an interview with Channels TV, El-Rufai claimed that the Office of the NSA (ONSA) was behind a programme that allegedly funds criminal groups.

According to him, the ONSA runs a policy where bandits are paid, fed, and pampered as part of the government’s “non-kinetic” strategy to tackle insecurity.

El-Rufai added, “What I will never do is pay bandits, give them monthly salaries, or send them food in the name of peace.

This is not Kaduna State’s idea; it is a national plan from the Office of the NSA. The new method is to pamper the bandits.”

But in a statement responding to these claims, Ribadu’s office described them as “false, unfounded, and insulting to the sacrifices of Nigeria’s security forces.”

The NSA clarified that at no point has his office or any part of the government under the current administration paid ransom or provided incentives to criminals. Instead, the government has continued to warn citizens against such actions.

He stressed that the Federal Government adopted a two-way approach—using strong military operations alongside community dialogue to address grievances at the local level.

The ONSA noted that this strategy has shown results in Kaduna areas like Igabi, Birnin Gwari, and Giwa, which used to be hotbeds of banditry but are now relatively peaceful.

The office highlighted major security wins, including the elimination of top bandit leaders such as Boderi, Baleri, Sani Yellow Janburos, Buhari, and Boka, plus the dismantling of Ansaru terror bases and arrests of their leaders.

“These achievements came with heavy sacrifices,” Ribadu’s office said. “Some of our courageous officers lost their lives. For a former governor like El-Rufai to ignore these sacrifices on national television is unfair and disrespectful to the memory of our fallen heroes.”