Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has criticized the Federal Government, accusing it of adopting what he called a “kiss-the-bandits policy” in addressing insecurity across the country
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, El-Rufai alleged that instead of confronting criminal gangs, the government was indirectly empowering them.
“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. It’s nonsense; we’re empowering bandits,” he said.
El-Rufai, who also served as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, said the initiative was a national programme coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), not specific to Kaduna State.
“It’s not the government of Kaduna State; it’s a national policy driven by the Office of the National Security Adviser, and Kaduna is part of it. Kiss the bandits; that’s the new policy,” he added.
The former governor condemned the idea of negotiating with or rehabilitating armed groups, arguing that such approaches worsen the crisis. “My position has always been [that] the only repentant bandit is a de.ad one. Let’s kill them all. Let’s bomb them until they are reduced to nothing, and then the five per cent that still want to be rehabilitated can be rehabilitated,” he said.
He further warned that the continued empowerment of criminals undermines national security. “You do not negotiate from a position of weakness. You don’t empower your enemy; you don’t give him money to go and buy sophisticated weapons. That is why the insecurity problem has not gone away and will not go away as long as this policy continues,” El-Rufai said.
Challenging those in authority to counter his claims, he stated: “They can deceive, they can cover up, they can do propaganda, but those that live in Katsina, those that live in Zamfara, those that live in Kaduna, those that live in those states, they know what is happening. Let the governor or anyone come and deny. When the time comes, we will reveal everything.”
El-Rufai’s comments come amid persistent insecurity in the North, with recent attacks reported in Katsina, Benue, and Plateau states.
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You are saying this because you are not in power sir. Hmm
Expose unaselves
God punish you El-Rufai! Who brought the mercenaries/banditry into Nigeria? It was you and your evil Fulanis, including Buhari. You all will die a miserable death by the grace of God!
SMH