By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Kaduna Concerned Citizens (KCC) has dismissed former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s allegation that the Uba Sani administration paid N1 billion to bandits, describing the claim as misleading, unsubstantiated, and politically motivated. The group made the clarification on Monday during a press briefing in Kaduna.
KCC convener, Abdulrashid Teslim, said El-Rufai’s remarks—made during a recent Channels Television interview—lacked credible evidence and risked undermining the state government’s efforts to address insecurity.
Teslim stated that the Kaduna State Government under Governor Uba Sani has not made any cash payments to criminal groups. Instead, he explained, the administration has adopted a security strategy focused on providing education, healthcare, and livelihood opportunities as non-financial incentives aimed at reducing violent activities and rehabilitating repentant individuals.
According to Teslim, this approach, earlier confirmed by Commissioner for Information Ahmed Maiyaki, reflects a shift from years of unsuccessful kinetic responses to insecurity.
“No such payment was ever made by the Kaduna State Government to any criminal element,” Teslim said. “Security deserves seriousness and collaboration—not sensationalism or unverified claims.”
He added that as a former leader, El-Rufai should demonstrate statesmanship by supporting ongoing peace efforts rather than issuing what he described as divisive and unfounded allegations.
Teslim further argued that insecurity in Kaduna reached its peak during El-Rufai’s tenure, contrasting it with the relatively more stable periods under past governors such as Ahmed Makarfi, Namadi Sambo, and Mukhtar Ramalan Yero.
“El-Rufai’s era was marked by deep divisions, violence, and a breakdown of communal trust,” he claimed. “Today, these former leaders continue to support peacebuilding, while El-Rufai issues statements that undermine reconciliation.”
The group also cited the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), which recently clarified that no ransom payment was made by Kaduna State or any government body in line with national security policy. This, they said, further discredited the former governor’s allegations.
KCC urged the public, media, and civil society groups to remain vigilant and avoid circulating political statements that could fuel division or distrust.
“Kaduna needs unity, not division; collaboration, not confusion,” Teslim said. “We stand firmly behind Governor Uba Sani’s commitment to peace, transparency, and justice.”
Responding to questions from journalists, Teslim noted that after 15 years of relying on purely military strategies, the state government discovered—through independent researchers engaging directly with bandits—that many of the root causes of violence required social interventions.
He argued that adopting a peace-centered model does not embolden criminals but instead addresses long-term stability.
“If a model will bring peace without empowering criminal elements, it should be welcomed,” he said. “Over the last two years, Kaduna has experienced greater stability compared to previous years.”
Teslim concluded by affirming the group’s support for the administration’s ongoing peacebuilding initiatives.
