Quest FM TV News – Former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has accused the Federal Government of deliberately empowering armed bandits by paying them monthly allowances and supplying food under the guise of non-kinetic security strategies.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, El-Rufai described the approach as a “kiss-the-bandits policy” allegedly driven by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).
He argued that such policies embolden criminals instead of curbing insecurity.
“You don’t empower your enemy; you don’t give him money to go and buy sophisticated weapons. This is why insecurity has not gone away—and will not go away as long as this policy continues,” he said.
Rejecting negotiations and incentives for bandits, El-Rufai insisted:
“My position has always been that the only repentant bandit is a dead one. Let’s bomb them until they are reduced to nothing, and then rehabilitate the few who truly want to surrender.”
The former FCT Minister further claimed that residents of Katsina, Zamfara, and Kaduna are aware of these alleged government-backed appeasements, challenging officials to deny his accusations.
“They can cover up with propaganda, but those living in the North know the truth. When the time comes, we will reveal everything,” he warned.
The Federal Government is yet to issue an official response to El-Rufai’s claims.
Report by: Enarewa Charity | Edited by: Chris Odjomah