Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, and the former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, are at loggerheads over allegations of paying ransom to bandits and terrorists responsible for mass kidnappings in the North.
The controversy began after El-Rufai accused federal authorities of secretly disbursing billions of naira to criminal groups under the guise of securing the release of abducted victims.
According to him, such practices embolden bandits, fuel more violence, and undermine the government’s stated policy of refusing to negotiate with terrorists.
But NSA Ribadu strongly refuted the claims, describing them as misleading and dangerous. He insisted that the government has not paid any ransom to bandits or terrorists since President Bola Tinubu assumed office.
Ribadu maintained that the administration is committed to tackling insecurity through intelligence, military operations, and improved policing not through financial concessions to criminals.The dispute comes amid growing public concern over the surge in abductions across northern Nigeria, with communities alleging that ransom payments whether by government officials, families, or intermediaries are sustaining the cycle of violence.
Analysts say the exchange between Ribadu and El-Rufai highlights the sensitive divide within Nigeria’s political and security circles on how best to address the worsening banditry crisis.
While victims’ families often feel compelled to pay to save lives, the government fears that official ransom deals could legitimize and expand criminal enterprises.The debate is expected to intensify as Nigerians demand greater transparency and accountability in the fight against insecurity, especially in states hardest hit by mass abductions.
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