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  • Northern group slams El-Rufai over comments on insecurity

    Northern group slams El-Rufai over comments on insecurity

    The Northern Awareness Network (NAN) has criticised former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, for his recent comments blaming the Federal Government for worsening insecurity in the country.

    In his latest remarks, El-Rufai alleged that the government is financially enabling insecurity — a claim NAN described as uncharitable, grossly insensitive, and a calculated attempt to discredit the current administration and undermine the sacrifices of Nigeria’s military and security agencies.

    The group said Nigerians remain resilient and united despite “political theatrics” from individuals who, it noted, have lost relevance in the public arena.

    NAN stressed that El-Rufai’s allegations were mischievous and intended to sow discord, adding that they do not reflect the spirit of unity and progress that Nigerians embody.

    Read Also: ‘El-Rufai not booed in Owerri’

    “The successes of the armed forces in fighting banditry and terrorism are commendable, and attempts to malign these efforts are unjust and harmful to security personnel’s morale. Citizens must recognise and support advancements in national security rather than being swayed by desperate narratives of those seeking lost political capital.”

    NAN also referenced a past incident where El-Rufai dispatched thugs to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat, injuring journalists, showcasing his disregard for democracy and civil discourse.

    The group noted that such behaviour is deemed unbecoming of a leader, raising questions about his commitment to democratic values and press freedom.

    “The Northern Awareness Network stands against attempts to undermine government integrity and calls on Nigerians to remain vigilant and discerning, rejecting narratives prioritising personal ambition over collective good. NANyg urges El-Rufai to reflect on his actions’ societal impact and recognise constructive engagement and collaboration as pathways to progress.”

  • Protesters boo Obi for bringing El-Rufai to Owerri

    Protesters boo Obi for bringing El-Rufai to Owerri

    • Declare ex-LP presidential candidate an enemy for fraternising with ex-Kaduna governor

    • Ex-LP presidential candidate ill, suspends engagements

    Hundreds of protesters on Saturday booed former Anambra State governor, Mr. Peter Obi, in Owerri, the Imo State capital, for hosting Mallam Nasir El-Rufai in the state.

    Both opposition leaders were in Owerri to attend the Odenigbo Lecture Series organised by the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri.

    El Rufai, a former Kaduna State governor, arrived in Imo State on Friday and was hosted by the traditional ruler of Nekede Ancient Kingdom, Eze Agumanu.

    While his presence at Nekede did not raise any dust, his attendance at a Christian event in the company of Peter Obi drew the ire of the people.

    Chanting war songs, the protesters, including men, women and youths, berated Peter Obi for bringing an enemy into Igboland.

    READ ALSO: North frantic about 2027

    They described El-Rufai as an unrepentant hater of Ndigbo and Christians, saying his eight years in Kaduna led to bloodbath that resulted in death of innocent Christians.

    Some of their placards read, “Stop deceiving us, Peter Obi,” “El Rufai is an enemy,” and “We don’t want you in Imo State.”

    It took heavy security to restrain some of the protesters from physically barring Obi and El-Rufai from gaining entry into the Assumpta Cathedral, venue of the lecture series.

    Some of the protesters expressed disappointment that Peter Obi could associate himself with someone who openly hates Ndigbo and conspired against them in national politics.

    “Our respect for Obi has evaporated today. By identifying with an enemy of Ndigbo, he has also made himself an enemy,” they declared.

    They said “Ndigbo will never take Obi seriously again after his open relationship with El-Rufai.”

    Also, some of the leaders of Social Democratic Party (SDP) had protested earlier over a rally the former Kaduna State governor intended to organise in the state.

    Key national leaders of the ADC, including El-Rufai and Obi had held a crucial meeting with Imo ADC stakeholders on Friday.

    The gathering was hosted at Awaka Community in Owerri North LGA, at the residence of Chief Dr. C.J. Oparah.

    The strategic session, which lasted an hour, provided a platform for dialogue on the party’s future direction and the consolidation of its structures.

    Those in attendance included Prof. Batos Nwadike (Oyi of Igboland); Chief Mike Nwachukwu (Mpi Dike); Rt. Hon. Maduagwu; HRM Eze Mitchell Uchenna Egbukole (Eze Ochoronma VI) of Egbu Ancient Kingdom in Owerri North LGA of Imo State, and Mr. Nick Oparandudu, among other supporters of the ADC.

    Ex-LP presidential candidate falls ill, suspends engagements

    Obi yesterday declared the suspension of his engagements for two days on account of ill health.

    This, he said, was on account of the advice doctors gave him after he visited the hospital.

    The former presidential candidate of Labour Party said in a statement: “Yesterday, after speaking at a tourism event in Enugu, I travelled to Good Hope Specialist Hospital, Isulo, Orumba South LGA of Anambra State, which is being acquired by the Aguata Diocese of the Church of Nigeria, and made my initial modest contribution of ₦10 million to aid the Diocese’s acquisition and revitalisation of the hospital facility.

    “Ven. Dr. Kamtochukwu Obi, who chairs the Aguata Diocesan Hospital Board, graciously took me round the massive facility, explaining the Diocese’s ambitious plans for its transformation.

    “Healthcare remains one of the most meaningful investments we can make.

    “Faith-based organisations have shown, time and again, that with the right support, they can deliver excellence.

    “I commend the Diocese’s vision to turn the hospital into a comprehensive health complex with a School of Nursing, Midwifery, and Health Technology — ensuring future generations have access to quality care and training.

    “Together, we can build a healthier Nigeria.

    “From Isulo, I proceeded to Owerri to honour an invitation from Barrister Nnaemeka Maduagwu for a dinner held in honour of his former boss, former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.

    “Earlier in Enugu, I was not feeling well. I visited the hospital where the doctor gave me some medication and advised me to take a day or two days rest.

    In obedience to the doctor’s advice, I will not be able to meet up with all my scheduled engagements within and outside the country this weekend.

    “I sincerely apologise for any inconveniences this might cause and humbly plead for understanding.”

  • North’s youths, others berate El-Rufai over payment to bandits claim

    North’s youths, others berate El-Rufai over payment to bandits claim

    • Group to U.S., UK: declare ex-governor persona non grata for hate speech

    Northern youths, under the aegis of the Coalition of Northern Youths Consultative Movement (CNYCM), have lambasted former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai for claiming that the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Kaduna State government made monthly payments to bandits to fight insecurity.

    The coalition described the comment as “reckless, baseless, and irresponsible” and called for a public apology from the former governor for the harm his words have caused.

    El-Rufai made the comments when he featured on a national television programme on Sunday.

    In a statement by its National Coordinator, Yusuf Musa Audu, and National Secretary, Bilal Galadima, the CNYCM said: “As leaders, we must prioritise communication that fosters national cohesion and encourages collaborative problem-solving rather than rhetoric that could exacerbate existing tensions.”

    The group urges politicians and leaders to exercise caution in their public statements, particularly on sensitive issues like national security.

    READ ALSO: Fed Govt: renewable energy open to local, foreign investors

    Also, a human rights advocacy group, the Transparency and Accountability Network (TAN), has told the United Nations (UN) and world powers to declare El-Rufai a global persona non grata

    The group also urged the international community to slam the former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister with entry denial into their countries.

    It described him as a “merchant of hate” whose actions and utterances threaten peace and humanity.

    In an open letter addressed to the Secretary General of the United Nations, ambassadors and High Commissioners of the United Kingdom (UK), the United States of America, Canada, China, and other nations represented in Nigeria, TAN’s National Coordinator, Michael Briggs, urged the international community to act decisively on El-Rufai’s actions.

    Briggs accused the ex-governor of “stoking the fire of ethnic and religious hatred” through recent comments.

    The activist alleged that El-Rufai sought to dismiss and dehumanise the people of Southern Kaduna.

    “On live television, he looked into the eyes of a nation and began the process of wiping a people off the map,” Briggs wrote.

    “He is telling his followers that these people do not count, that they are not enough to matter. When you believe people do not matter, it becomes easy to look away when they are slaughtered.”

    TAN’s national coordinator gave reason for asking the international community to take action against El-Rufai.

    He said: “We cannot allow a man who threatens genocide against his people to find a haven in your countries. He does not deserve your visa. He does not deserve your protection. He does not deserve a single moment of peace while the ghosts of those he has wronged still cry out for justice.”

    But El-Rufai has fired back at the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and the Kaduna State government (KDSG).

    The former governor accused them of politicising national security and diverting public funds under the guise of fighting insecurity.

    In a strongly worded rejoinder issued late on Monday, El-Rufai said: “It is a well-known fact to discerning Nigerians that the face of the politicisation of national security for politically intended purposes resides, for the first time in our recent history, in the ONSA under its present leadership.”

    The former governor alleged that the ONSA, in collaboration with a northern senator, failed in managing terrorism and banditry, while engaging in propaganda and protocol duties at the expense of security operations.

  • Southern Kaduna leaders hit El-Rufai over ‘lies, disdain’ for indigenes

    Southern Kaduna leaders hit El-Rufai over ‘lies, disdain’ for indigenes

    The Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) has strongly criticised former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, accusing him of running an administration built on propaganda, lies, and hostility towards Southern Kaduna.

    In a statement on Tuesday, SOKAPU President, Engr. Tabara Samuel Kato, described El-Rufai as “a man in need of help,” alleging that his eight years in office were marked by policies designed to humiliate Southern Kaduna people.

    The group’s reaction followed El-Rufai’s recent remarks on Channels Television, where he reportedly downplayed the population and political relevance of Southern Kaduna.

    Kato accused the ex-governor of consistently demonising Southern Kaduna clergy and communities during violent attacks, while diverting federal allocations of affected councils under the pretext of damage repairs.

    “He demoted our traditional rulers without consultation, changed the names of our chiefdoms, abolished districts and left some chiefdoms with only one district. These were not acts of governance but a fit of untreated madness,” Kato stated.

    SOKAPU further alleged that El-Rufai manipulated the indigeneship question in Kaduna, appointing outsiders to key positions while “milking the state dry.”

    The group claimed some of his appointees are already refunding huge sums of money to the state through anti-graft agencies, stressing that indigeneship cannot be “donated, created, or taken away by government.”

    SOKAPU also faulted El-Rufai’s admission during his tenure that he traced some killers of Southern Kaduna people to Niger, Chad and Mali and allegedly paid them compensation.

    “That a government identified murderers and took state resources to appease them remains the highest diplomatic misadventure in history. It is either he lied to steal resources or he simply empowered them to buy more arms,” Kato said.

    The group dismissed El-Rufai’s claim that Southern Kaduna people make up less than 25 per cent of the state’s population, pointing to official figures from INEC and the National Population Commission showing otherwise.

    According to the figures cited, Southern Kaduna’s 12 local governments contributed about 1.9 million of the 4.3 million registered voters in 2023, representing 43.7 per cent of the state’s voting strength.

    “Obasanjo once called him a madman filled with annoyance. When we compare these data with what El-Rufai keeps churning out, we have no hesitation concluding that he is a pathological liar,” the SOKAPU leader added.

    Kato accused El-Rufai of making frantic but futile attempts to seize Southern Kaduna lands during his eight years in office, stressing that no land in the region is without owners.

    “The efforts of the state and federal government to seize indigenous lands under any guise and donate to roving scavengers shall be resisted. We fought El-Rufai to a standstill in court and we will resist such moves again,” he vowed.

    SOKAPU urged the media to be circumspect in featuring the former governor, arguing that “lies from a disturbed brain do not add value to the society.”

    “The cancerous acts of El-Rufai have shown him to be a man of no character. Worse still, the madman status ascribed to him by Obasanjo suggests he truly needs help. Nigerians should understand this and recommend help for him,” Kato said.

  • El-Rufai under fire over payment to bandits claim

    El-Rufai under fire over payment to bandits claim

    Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai has come under fire for claiming that Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and Kaduna State Government were paying bandits and supplying them food as a non – kinetic means of tackling insecurity.

    Executive Director, National Civil Society Council of Nigeria, Blessing Akinlosotu noted that such public allegation without authoritative facts and figures to back the claims, was “most unfortunate and unexpected from a high-profile leader of his caliber.”

    Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Akinlosotu noted that all Nigerians, especially those in government, political gladiators and civil society opinion shapers should put the security of lives of every Nigerian above personal interest.

    He also urged them to appreciate efforts and investments being made towards securing lives of highly endangered citizens, so long as methodologies applied do not further endanger our sovereignty or compromise national security, peace, unity and our territorial integrity.

    Read Also: Hate speech: Declare El-Rufai global persona non grata, group tells USA, UK

    Akinlosotu said, “Mallam Nasir El-rufai should in next 72 hours, and as a matter of urgency, responsibility and responsiveness, come out boldly with evidences and proofs to the allegation made against the National Security Adviser and the Security Architecture, or render unreserved apology in the event of failure to substantiate his allegations, else would be publicly blacklisted by NCSCN.

    “We urge the Office of the National Security Adviser to strengthen collaboration with the organised civil society community towards dissemination of vital information on the activities of the offices needed by citizen, as and when necessary.

    “Any nation claiming absolute non-negotiation posture or total military force in dealing with terrorism, without any form or case of dialogue and negotiation, is either living in self denial or being hypocritical.

    “Nigeria must join the rest of the world to institutionalise and strategically combine the use of kinetic and non-kinetic methodologies in fighting insecurity in the country.”

  • Hate speech: Declare El-Rufai global persona non grata, group tells USA, UK

    Hate speech: Declare El-Rufai global persona non grata, group tells USA, UK

    A human rights advocacy group, the Transparency and Accountability Network (TAN), has appealed to United Nations and world powers to declare former Kaduna state Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai global persona non grata 

    The group also called on the international community to slam the former Federal Capital Territory Minister with entry denial into their countries, describing him as a “merchant of hate” whose actions and utterances threaten peace and humanity.

    In an open letter addressed to the Secretary General of the United Nations. Ambassadors and High Commissioners of the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, China, and other nations represented in Nigeria, TAN’s National Coordinator, Comrade Michael Briggs, said the time has come for the international community to act decisively.

    Briggs accused El-Rufai of “stoking the fire of ethnic and religious hatred” through recent comments, which, he alleged, sought to dismiss and dehumanize the people of Southern Kaduna.

    “On live television, he looked into the eyes of a nation and began the process of wiping a people off the map,” Briggs wrote. “He is telling his followers that these people do not count, that they are not enough to matter. When you believe people do not matter, it becomes easy to look away when they are slaughtered.”

    The group also recalled El-Rufai’s controversial remark during the 2023 general elections when he allegedly threatened to put international election observers “in body bags,” saying such rhetoric revealed a man “who believes he is above all laws, both human and divine.”

    Citing some of his excesses, the group alleged that under El-Rufai’s watch as governor, Kaduna was “drowned in blood,” with communities in Southern Kaduna facing repeated attacks and massacres, while the government looked away.

     The letter also referenced the military crackdown on members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (Shia Muslims) in Zaria, which resulted in hundreds of deaths, accusing the former governor of condoning atrocities against his own citizens.

    Cautioning granting him visa should he seek sanctuary abroad, Briggs urged foreign governments to take preventive action.

    Read Also: Northern youths slam El-Rufai over alleged bandit payments claim

    “We can not allow a man who threatens genocide on his own people to find a safe haven in your countries. He does not deserve your visa. He does not deserve your protection. He does not deserve a single moment of peace while the ghosts of those he has wronged still cry out for justice.”

    TAN therefore demanded that El-Rufai be declared persona non grata across the world, barred from entering or residing in foreign countries, and denied access to financial institutions abroad.

    The group argued that such an action would serve as a deterrent to leaders who enable violence and use hate speech to deepen divisions in society.

    “Your action now is not just about border control; it is a powerful message. It tells the people of Southern Kaduna that they are seen. It tells the victims of his past violence that they are not forgotten. Most importantly, it tells Nasir El-Rufai and others like him that the world will no longer be a safe haven for their kind,” the letter concluded.

  • NDYC lauds NSA’s leadership, condemns El-Rufai’s ‘divisive’ remarks

    NDYC lauds NSA’s leadership, condemns El-Rufai’s ‘divisive’ remarks

    The Niger Delta Youth Congress (NDYC) has commended the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) under the leadership of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for what it described as tangible gains in the fight against terror and insecurity.

    In a statement issued on behalf of the NDYC by the National Coordinator Comrade Israel Uwejeyan, he noted that major terror bases have been neutralised, notorious bandit leaders eliminated, and communities once abandoned by fear are now returning to normalcy.

    This is just as the group condemned former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai’s attempts to smear the Ofice of the NSA, describing his comments as “reckless” and “careless soundbites” that trivialise the sacrifices of the armed forces.

    El-Rufai on Channels Television, speaking on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), said insecurity has been on the rise since 2023.

    The NDYC emphasised that the achievements of the NSA are concrete and verifiable, purchased with blood, sweat, and sacrifices, and not propaganda victories.

    The group also criticised El-Rufai’s past record, citing his divisive utterances, questionable antecedents, and arrogant disposition, which they said had made him unfit for higher office. The NDYC urged citizens to rally around the administration and support the government’s security agenda, which has already yielded tangible results.

    Read Also: NDYC urges politicians to respect INEC’s integrity, condemns Amaechi, El-Rufai’s comments

    The group warned El-Rufai to desist from undermining national security for personal vendettas, stating that Nigeria is now wiser and Nigerians are watching. The NDYC declared that El-Rufai is “yesterday’s mistake, not tomorrow’s promise” and that his reckless utterances are “nothing but the groans of irrelevance.”

    “We urge politicians to desist from the dangerous pastime of undermining national security for personal vendettas. The days when politicians could throw inflammatory bombs into the national space and walk away unchallenged are gone. Nigeria is wiser, and Nigerians are watching.

    “We urge citizens across the country to rally around this administration and the Office of the NSA and support the government’s security agenda, which has already yielded tangible results. 

    The sacrificed of our armed forces cannot and must not be diminished by the idle rants of a rejected politician seeking attention.

  • NSA, Kaduna govt knock El-Rufai over payment to bandits claim

    NSA, Kaduna govt knock El-Rufai over payment to bandits claim

    • Don’t drag national security institutions into partisan conflicts

    Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai came under attacks yesterday for alleging that the governments were engaging in appeasement of bandits.

    According to him, hefty sums were being paid to the bandits to keep the peace.

    The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and Kaduna State government chided him for making wild claims.

    He was cautioned against stoking violence in Kaduna.

    The North-Central All Progressives Congress (NC-APC) Forum also knocked the former governor.

    El-Rufai, a former APC leader, now a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), described giving money to bandits as empowering them to prolong their evil actions.

    He also delved into the 2027 presidential race, claiming that President Tinubu would be third.

    In  separate statements, ONSA and the Kaduna State Government accused El-Rufai of politicising the security challenge in the country instead of  seeing it as a  “collective struggle.’’

    They dismissed the former governor’s allegation as not only “baseless” but provocative and manipulative.

    ONSA said in  a statement by its Director of Legal Services, Zakari Mijinyawa: “The allegations by El-Rufai are not only false but also contradict verifiable facts on the ground.”

    The statement clarified that neither the ONSA nor any government agency under the Tinubu administration has ever engaged in ransom payments or inducements to criminals.

     The statement reads: “From inception, this government adopted a dual strategy: decisive kinetic operations alongside community engagements aimed at addressing local grievances.

    ‘’The result is evident in areas such as Igabi, Birnin Gwari, Giwa, and other parts of Kaduna State that once suffered untold terror but are now experiencing relative peace.”

    It also explained that the kinetic operations have led to both the capture and elimination of notorious bandits. According to ONSA, in Kaduna alone, notorious kingpins who once terrorised residents, including Boderi, Baleri, Sani Yellow Janburos, Buhari and Boka, were eliminated.

    The ONSA added that recently, leaders of Ansaru who had established bases in Kaduna were also apprehended.

    “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,” it said.

    It cautioned El-Rufai and all political actors to refrain from dragging national security institutions into partisan conflicts, emphasising that the fight against banditry is a “collective struggle, not a platform for political point-scoring.”

    The Kaduna State Government accused El-Rufai of plotting to destabilise the state through “provocation, manipulation and lies.”

    It claimed that the former governor was bent on dragging the state back to its “dark and violent past” after the defeat of his political allies in the August 16 by-elections.

    Read Also: Tinubu pledges speedy implementation of Nigeria–Colombia agreements

    The government added that el-Rufai’s recent actions, including convening an “illegal and chaotic” political meeting that degenerated into violence on August 30, were a clear attempt by him to provoke instability.”

    In the statement by its Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Suleiman Shuiabu, the  government said el-Rufai’s remarks   were “incendiary, malicious, and an insult to the sacrifices of security agencies and communities who have worked to restore peace.”

    It stated that the joint efforts of security forces and community-led peace initiatives under Governor Uba Sani have brought relative calm to troubled areas of the state.

    Like the ONSA, the government pointed out that notorious bandit leaders such as Boderi, Baleri, Sani Yellow, Janburos, Buhari and Boka had been eliminated, while Ansaru leaders who once operated in parts of Kaduna have been arrested.

    “For a former governor to deny these victories and insult the memory of fallen officers is not only shameful but dangerous,” it added.

    The government described El-Rufai’s tenure as governor of the state as one marked by “ethno-religious division, fear and exclusion.”

    “Kaduna has transitioned from the brink of collapse to a growing beacon of hope, unity, and development,” it said.

       Also, the NC-APC Forum accused the former governor “spreading propaganda and lies.”

    In a statement by its  Chairman, Saleh Zazzaga, the forum said: “It is necessary to state that the security situation in the country did not degenerate under the Tinubu administration, but what is not in doubt is that Mr. President has taken the challenge head-on and has made considerable progress in addressing the problem,”   said the forum.

    “The claim is baseless, as there is no record of the Tinubu administration engaging in payments to bandits and criminals.”

    “El-Rufai’s claim that insecurity has increased in parts of the North-Central is equally false. We are aware that the claim is part of the campaign of propaganda and lies that he has embarked on since missing out on President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

    ”We advise Mallam Nasir El-Rufai to leave the North-Central out of his lies. The North-Central is with Mr. President, and El-Rufai is engaged in a futile mission if he thinks he can come between the President and the people of the region.’’

    El-Rufai’s claim that President Tinubu would lose the 2027 poll was also got dismissed by Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike.

    El-Rufai had on the same television station programme said: “Tinubu will be third in the 2027 election. I have done my Mathematics, and I can tell you, Tinubu has no pathway to win. The worst-case scenario is that there will not be any winner in the first ballot.’’

    But Wike said on another national television programme yesterday that he could place a bet with confidence that   Tinubu would win convincingly.

    Stating that El-Rufai’s projections and calculations were flawed, the FCT minister wondered why he did not specify who would come first and second in the election.

    Wike also asserted that Peter Obi would pose no threat to Tinubu in 2027, even though he had six million votes in 2023.

    He noted that political dynamics have since changed.

  • JUST IN: ONSA slams El-Rufai over ransom payment claim

    JUST IN: ONSA slams El-Rufai over ransom payment claim

    The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has described as “baseless” the claim by former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai that the current administration engaged in ransom payments or inducements to criminals.

    The ONSA, in a statement on Monday by its Director of Legal Services, Zakari Mijinyawa, said El-Rufai’s allegations “are not only false but also contradict verifiable facts on ground.”

    The statement clarified that neither the ONSA nor any government agency under this administration has ever engaged in ransom payments or inducements to criminals, and has consistently cautioned Nigerians against paying ransom.

    It said: “From inception, this government adopted a dual strategy: decisive kinetic operations alongside community engagements aimed at addressing local grievances.The result is evident in areas such as Igabi, Birnin Gwari, Giwa, and other parts of Kaduna that once suffered untold terror in Kaduna state but are now experiencing relative peace.”

    The ONSA stated that the kinetic operations led by gallant military and security agencies, which have resulted in the capture or elimination of notorious bandits, have been widely reported in the media, though some of these successes came at a great cost, with some of our brave officers paying the supreme price.

    According to ONSA, in Kaduna alone, notorious kingpins who once terrorised residents, including Boderi, Baleri, Sani Yellow Janburos, Buhari and Boka, among others, were eliminated. Recently, leaders of Ansaru who had established bases in Kaduna were also apprehended. 

    “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 said.

    The ONSA cautioned El-Rufai and all political actors to refrain from dragging national security institutions into partisan conflicts, emphasizing that the fight against banditry is a “collective struggle, not a platform for political point-scoring.”

  • ADC denies claims of SDP merger in Kaduna, slams El-Rufai

    ADC denies claims of SDP merger in Kaduna, slams El-Rufai

    The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kaduna State has refuted reports that the entire structure of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the state has collapsed into its fold under the influence of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Mallam Bashir Saidu, and Hon. Ja’afar Mohammed Sani.

    In a statement signed by its state publicity secretary, Musa Idris, the ADC described the report as “false, baseless, and unknown to the leadership of our party in Kaduna State.”

    The clarification came after a statement by one Mr. Darius Kurah, who identified himself as “Publicity Secretary of the Coalition.” 

    ADC, however, disowned him, stressing that Kurah is neither a member nor an official of the party, describing his claims as “political impersonation.”

    Idris emphasised that he remains the only recognised publicity secretary of ADC in Kaduna State and clarified that the State Chairman, Elder Patrick D. Ambut, was misrepresented. 

    According to him, Ambut only attended a post-bye-election review meeting and never authorised any statement indicating a merger with the SDP.

    “For the record, ADC did not convene any meeting to absorb SDP members. ADC did not receive or collapse SDP structures into its fold. ADC did not authorise any pronouncement suggesting otherwise,” the statement read.

    Read Also: Atiku, Obi, el-Rufai bewildered

    The party emphasised that while SDP remains part of a coalition at the national level, any individual or group wishing to join ADC must go through due process, starting with registration at the ward level. It dismissed any claim of a wholesale “collapse of structures” as having no legal or political effect.

    Reaffirming its commitment to inclusivity and coalition-building, the ADC maintained that its doors are open to genuine political partners across parties, but “cannot be forced open by political opportunism, deceit, or backdoor proclamations.”

    The statement concluded with a call on the public and media to disregard what it described as “false claims being peddled by Mr. Darius Kurah and his sponsors,” assuring that ADC structures across Kaduna’s 23 local governments remain intact, united, and committed to offering a people-driven alternative.