Civil society slams ex-Kaduna Governor Nasir el-Rufai over unverified claims against ONSA, demands proof or apology, and urges Nigeria to adopt balanced security tactics.
Former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, has stirred controversy after alleging that both the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Kaduna State Government were making payments to bandits and even supplying them food.
His claims have been met with sharp criticism, particularly from civil society leaders who insist that such remarks are damaging when presented without verifiable evidence.
Reacting to the allegation, the Executive Director of the National Civil Society Council of Nigeria (NCSCN), Blessing Akinlosotu, described the statement as reckless and disappointing.
Speaking at a press briefing, he noted that it was “most unfortunate and unexpected from a leader of his standing” to make sweeping accusations without facts or figures to support them.
Akinlosotu explained that leaders in government, politics, and civil society should always act with a sense of responsibility when commenting on security matters, stressing that public safety should come before personal or partisan interests.
The NCSCN leader gave el-Rufai a clear ultimatum.
According to him, the former governor must, within 72 hours, either provide credible evidence to support his claim or issue an open apology to Nigerians.
Failure to do so, he warned, would lead to el-Rufai being publicly blacklisted by the council.
“This is a matter of urgency and responsibility,” Akinlosotu said. “If allegations are made against the National Security Adviser and the security system of the country, they must be backed by facts. Otherwise, silence would have been better.”
While acknowledging the scale of Nigeria’s insecurity challenges, Akinlosotu urged citizens to appreciate the huge financial and human resources already committed to protecting lives, especially in areas vulnerable to attacks.
He emphasized, however, that such efforts must never come at the cost of compromising the country’s sovereignty, peace, or territorial integrity.
He further advised the Office of the National Security Adviser to work more closely with civil society organizations.
Such cooperation, he said, would make it easier to share credible updates on security activities with citizens and reduce the spread of misinformation.
On the wider fight against terrorism, Akinlosotu argued that no country can claim success by relying exclusively on military power.
Nations that pretend to reject dialogue or negotiation, he said, are either deceiving themselves or being insincere.
He recommended that Nigeria should follow global best practices by adopting a combined approach—mixing kinetic measures such as military action with non-kinetic strategies like dialogue, diplomacy, and social engagement. Only through such a balance, he concluded, can lasting peace and stability be achieved.