Kaduna Gov Denies Paying Bandits, Counters El-Rufai’s Claim

Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has rejected allegations that his government pays money to bandits. He described the claim as “political mischief.”

The governor made this statement on TVC’s Politics on Sunday while responding to former Governor Nasir El-Rufai. El-Rufai had accused both the Federal Government and Kaduna State of giving allowances and food supplies to armed groups under what he called a “non-kinetic” security policy.

El-Rufai, in an earlier interview on Channels Television, had criticized the approach as a “kiss-the-bandits policy”, claiming that it only empowered criminals. According to him, “the only repentant bandit is a dead one.”

Governor Sani, however, dismissed the allegation, saying Kaduna has never paid or supported bandits in any way. He stressed that his administration’s “Kaduna Model” is focused on empowerment programs, addressing the root causes of insecurity, and working with community, religious, and traditional leaders.

We have not paid one person a dime, not one naira to anybody,” Sani said. “Our Kaduna model is a community-based initiative. It has nothing to do with paying bandits.”