The Federal Government, through the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), has denied claims by Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna, that it offers incentives to bandits.
In a television interview on Sunday, El-Rufai alleged that the ONSA coordinates a policy of paying criminals.
But in a statement on Monday, Zakari Mijinyawa, spokesperson for the ONSA, described the claim as false.
“At no time has the ONSA, or any arm of government under this administration, engaged in ransom payments or inducements to criminals,” he said.
Mijinyawa said the government has consistently warned Nigerians against paying ransom to kidnappers.
He added that the administration has adopted a dual strategy involving military operations and community engagements to tackle banditry.
According to him, the approach has led to improved security in areas such as Igabi, Birnin Gwari, and Giwa in Kaduna state.
The ONSA said notorious bandits, including Boderi, Baleri, Sani Yellow Janburos, Buhari, and Boka, have been eliminated.
Mijinyawa added that leaders of Ansaru, a terrorist group that once had bases in Kaduna, were recently apprehended.
He added: “These successes came at a cost, some of our brave officers paid the supreme price.
“For a former governor to deny these sacrifices on national television is both unfair and deeply insulting to the memories of our security personnel.”
The ONSA urged El-Rufai and other political figures to desist from dragging security institutions into partisan disputes.
“The fight against banditry is a collective struggle, not a platform for political point-scoring,” Mijinyawa said.
