El-Rufai Doubles Down, Dismisses NSA, Kaduna Govt Response as ‘Predictable Hot Air’
Former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has doubled down on his explosive allegations against the federal government, insisting that ransom payments are being made to bandits despite official denials.
El-Rufai, in a Sunday interview, accused the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) of mismanaging the fight against insecurity by channelling huge funds to criminal groups under the guise of a “non-kinetic” approach. According to him, such strategies only embolden terrorists while weakening Nigeria’s security forces.
The NSA’s office swiftly rejected the allegations, describing them as false, misleading, and an insult to the sacrifices of Nigerian troops. ONSA’s Director of Legal Services, Zakari Mijinyawa, highlighted recent security gains, including the elimination of top bandit leaders, and warned El-Rufai against politicising security issues.
The Kaduna State Government also fired back, accusing the former governor of seeking to destabilise the state and discredit Governor Uba Sani’s administration. Officials described his comments as “malicious lies” intended to incite fear among residents.
Unmoved by both responses, El-Rufai took to social media, dismissing them as “fake, predictable hot air.” He challenged the government to provide transparency on security spending, disarmament programmes, and alleged ransom payments.
The face-off has heightened political tension, raising fresh questions about Nigeria’s security strategy and governance accountability.
