APC group warns opposition against downplaying security efforts

Tuesday, September 2, 2025 - The All Progressives Congress League of Professionals (ALP) has frowned at comments credited to the former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasri El-Rufai, insinuating that the federal government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is empowering bandits.

El-Rufai had on Sunay alleged that the federal government was empowering bandits by paying them a monthly allowance as well as sending food to them in the name of non-kinetic approach, describing it as a kiss-the-bandits policy.

A statement signed by ALP National Coordinator, Comrade Marlin Daniel,
a copy of which was sighted by our correspondent warned Mallam El-Rufai and all opposition elements to desist from dragging the Office of the National Security Adivser (ONSA) under Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and Sen.Shehu Umar Buba the Chairman Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence as well as all the gallant efforts of security personnel in the country.

” Instead of commending the Nuhu Ribadu led NSA and our gallant security agencies for a seamless coordination and successful onslaught on insecurity, Mallam El-Rufai, notorious for his defense and support for bandits and terrorists during his reign as Governor of Kaduna State has chosen rather to mislead the public.

”The success in the fight against terror which has been recorded under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Nuhu Ribadu, including the arrest of the kingpins of the Mahmuda Sect cannot be contested and anybody trying to downplay such feats including strong legislative backing from the Senate, is an enemy of the country.

”We make bold to say that the ONSA does not coordinate a policy of payments and incentives to bandits. Neither ONSA or any agency under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been engaged in ransom payments or inducements to criminals.

”Infact, the federal government through ONSA has consistently discouraged Nigerians from paying ransom to criminals. It is also on record that from inception, the federal government has adopted a dual strategy: decisive kinetic operations and community engagements which are aimed at addressing local grievances.

”The impact of these approaches in areas such as Igabi, Birnin Gwari, Giwa, and other parts of Kaduna that once suffered untold terror in Kaduna State under El-Rufai but are now experiencing relative peace should remind him that ONSA under Nuhu Ribadu with full support from Mr. President has done what he could not do.

”The efforts of our gallant military and security agencies in capturing or eliminating notorious bandits have been widely reported in the media. Recently, leaders of Ansaru, who previously established bases in Kaduna, were apprehended. It is therefore, unfair and insulting to the memories of our security personnel for El-Rufai to deny the sacrifices made by the military.

”These successes came at a cost as some of our brave officers paid the supreme price. For a former governor of a state in the person of El-Rufai to deny these sacrifices on national television is both unfair and deeply insulting to the memories of our security personnel”, the statement noted.

ALP therefore, urged El-Rufai and all political actors to “desist from dragging national security institutions into partisan battles as the fight against banditry is a collective struggle, not a platform for political point-scoring and grandstanding”.