Former Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has accused the Federal Government of fueling insecurity by paying monthly stipends and supplying food items to armed bandits under the guise of non-kinetic security strategies.
Speaking on Sunday Politics, a Channels Television programme, El-Rufai dismissed the approach as a “kiss-the-bandits policy” allegedly driven by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).
“What I will not do is to pay bandits, give them a monthly allowance, or send food to them in the name of non-kinetic measures. It’s nonsense; we’re empowering bandits,” El-Rufai stated.
The former governor, who has often maintained a hard stance against negotiating with criminal groups, warned that such policies only embolden insurgents and undermine national security.
His remarks add to the growing debate over the Federal Government’s strategy in tackling widespread banditry and insecurity across northern Nigeria.
