NSA 1bn Paid to Bandits for Students’ Release – El-Rufai Alleges
NSA 1bn Paid to Bandits for Students’ Release – El-Rufai Alleges
Former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has made a startling allegation regarding Nigeria’s security strategy, claiming that the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, approved the payment of ₦1 billion to bandits to secure the release of abducted students.
El-Rufai made the disclosure during a live interview on Channels Television, where he criticised what he described as the Federal Government’s non-kinetic approach to tackling insecurity.
According to him, the alleged payment and provision of food and other incentives to bandits amount to empowering criminal elements rather than dismantling them. He warned that such measures could encourage more kidnappings and deepen insecurity, particularly in regions already plagued by banditry.
The allegation has sparked intense reactions across the country, with Nigerians divided over whether negotiation and incentives are justified if they lead to the release of innocent victims, or whether such actions only strengthen criminal networks and worsen the security crisis.
As of the time of filing this report, the Office of the National Security Adviser has not issued an official response to the claim.
The controversy has once again brought Nigeria’s security policy under public scrutiny, raising questions about transparency, accountability, and the long-term effectiveness of engaging armed groups as a means of restoring peace.
This remains a developing story.
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