Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has launched a strong criticism of the Federal Government’s strategy in tackling banditry, accusing it of indirectly strengthening criminal groups.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, El-Rufai alleged that the government has been offering what he described as a “kiss-the-bandits policy.” According to him, this involves paying monthly stipends and providing food under the guise of a non-kinetic approach.
“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,” the former governor said.
El-Rufai, who also served as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), claimed the policy is coordinated at the national level, spearheaded by the Office of the National Security Adviser. He argued that rather than holding criminals accountable, the government’s actions embolden them and worsen insecurity.
“My position has always been that the only repentant bandit is a dead one. Let’s kill them all, let’s bomb them until they are reduced to nothing, and then the five percent that still want to be rehabilitated can be rehabilitated,” he declared.
The outspoken politician further warned against negotiating from a position of weakness, stressing that funding armed groups only provides them the means to acquire more sophisticated weapons.
“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,” he added.
El-Rufai concluded by urging Nigerians, particularly residents of states like Katsina, Zamfara, and Kaduna, to pay attention to the realities on the ground rather than government narratives.
