The 2023 Labour Party vice presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, has urged Nigerian security agencies to investigate allegations made by former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, that the Federal Government is paying allowances to bandits.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, Baba-Ahmed dismissed the rebuttal issued by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), stressing that such a grave allegation required a formal investigation rather than a mere denial.
“If the so-called 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.
El-Rufai’s Allegation
During an earlier interview on Sunday Politics, El-Rufai alleged that both the Federal Government and the Kaduna State Government had been paying bandits “monthly allowances” and sending them food supplies in the name 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,” El-Rufai stated.
He further described the policy as a national strategy allegedly driven by the NSA’s office, insisting that Kaduna was part of it.
Denials and Counter-Reactions
The NSA and the Kaduna State Government have both denied the claims, dismissing them as baseless.
However, Baba-Ahmed maintained that such dismissals were inadequate given the seriousness of the allegation.
“That is not a reaction. Are people understanding the gravity of this statement? A national policy is the official position of a government. Was such a thing held? Why did Nasir say it?” he asked.
The Labour Party chieftain insisted that El-Rufai should be compelled to provide evidence and make formal statements before security agencies, courts, or investigative bodies.
Baba-Ahmed concluded that the matter goes beyond political controversy, stressing that El-Rufai’s claims demand accountability and a thorough probe.
