Nigeria: Baba-Ahmed Says El-Rufai Must Be Questioned Over Bandit Payment Allegations

By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu

Labour Party’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, has called for former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai to be questioned over his claims that the Federal Government is paying bandits.

Baba-Ahmed made the statement on Tuesday during an interview on Politics Today on Channels Television. He criticised the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for dismissing El-Rufai’s comments, arguing that such an allegation should not be treated lightly.

“If the Office of the National Security Adviser would take this statement with levity, then Nuhu Ribadu was never a policeman; he is not a qualified lawyer; he should not be in that office,” Baba-Ahmed said.

According to him, El-Rufai ought to be submitting statements to the police and courts rather than making public accusations.

El-Rufai had alleged on Sunday Politics that both federal and Kaduna State authorities were paying bandits monthly allowances and providing food supplies under the guise of non-kinetic measures. He described the approach as a “kiss-the-bandits policy,” which he said only strengthened criminal groups.

The NSA and Kaduna State Government have rejected the claims, describing them as baseless. But Baba-Ahmed insisted that Nigerians should reflect on the seriousness of El-Rufai’s words.

“A national policy is an official declaration made public and celebrated. Was such a thing done? Why did Nasir say it?” he asked.