The 2023 Labour Party vice-presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, has called for former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai to be questioned over his claim that the Federal Government was paying bandits. Baba-Ahmed made this statement during an appearance on Channels Television’s programme, Politics Today, on Tuesday.

Baba-Ahmed’s remark comes in response to El-Rufai’s allegation that the Federal Government and Kaduna State were providing a monthly allowance to bandits, as well as sending them food, under the guise of non-kinetic measures. El-Rufai had described this approach as a “kiss-the-bandits” policy.

The National Security Adviser’s office, led by Nuhu Ribadu, had issued a rebuttal to El-Rufai’s comment. However, Baba-Ahmed dismissed this rebuttal, stating that if the office of the National Security Adviser was taking El-Rufai’s statement lightly, then Ribadu was not qualified to hold his position. According to Baba-Ahmed, El-Rufai should be providing statements to the police and the courts, rather than making public allegations.

The context of El-Rufai’s allegation is significant, as it pertains to the Nigerian government’s approach to addressing banditry and insecurity in the country. The use of non-kinetic measures, such as dialogue and financial incentives, has been a topic of debate among policymakers and security experts. Baba-Ahmed’s call for El-Rufai to be questioned suggests that there may be a need for further investigation into the matter.

The development highlights the complexities of addressing insecurity in Nigeria, where various approaches have been employed to combat banditry and other forms of violence. As the country continues to grapple with these challenges, the significance of El-Rufai’s allegation and Baba-Ahmed’s response will likely be scrutinized by stakeholders and the general public. Further clarification on the matter may be necessary to determine the next steps in addressing the issue.