Datti Baba-Ahmed calls for probe into El-Rufai’s claims of Govt paying bandits

The Labour Party’s Vice Oresidential candidate in the 2023 election, Datti Baba-Ahmed, has urged the Federal Government to take seriously former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s allegations that the government was paying bandits.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, Baba-Ahmed said El-Rufai should be questioned by the police and courts over his claims.

El-Rufai alleged on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics that the Federal Government and Kaduna State were paying a “monthly allowance” to bandits and sending “food to them in the name of non-kinetic”.

He described the move as a “kiss-the-bandits” policy, stating that it’s a national policy driven by the Office of the National Security Adviser.

The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Kaduna Government have denied the claims, labeling them as baseless.

However, Baba-Ahmed dismissed the rebuttal, saying it’s not a sufficient response to such serious allegations.

Baba-Ahmed emphasised that El-Rufai’s statement should not be taken lightly and that the former governor should provide evidence to support his claims.

He said, “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 suggested that El-Rufai should be writing statements to the police and courts to clarify his allegations.

He also questioned the existence of such a national policy, asking, “Was such a thing held? Why did Nasir say it?”

The controversy surrounding El-Rufai’s claims has sparked debate about the government’s approach to insecurity in Nigeria.

Many Nigerians are demanding clarity on the government’s policy towards bandits and terrorists, and some have expressed concerns that negotiating with terrorists sends the wrong message.