Kaduna Governor Uba Sani Denies Paying Bandits, Says Focus Is on Victims
Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, has refuted claims that his administration has paid ransom or entered negotiations with bandits. He emphasized that his government’s priority is supporting victims of violence not compensating perpetrators.
Speaking during an appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time, Governor Sani dismissed the rumors, stating they contradict everything he stands for.
“You cannot claim to be defending the poor or fighting for justice while giving money to those who terrorize communities,” he said.
Governor Sani explained that the insecurity plaguing Nigeria’s North-West is primarily driven by economic conditions, unlike the ideologically motivated Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East.
“When we talk about insecurity, we must understand the root causes. Boko Haram is largely ideological. But in the North-West, it’s about economic deprivation,” he said.
“That’s why, from the beginning of my administration, I made it clear: a purely military approach will not solve this problem.”
He added that critics initially accused him of planning to pay off armed groups, but he maintained that doing so would go against his lifelong advocacy for justice.
“I told them, a man who has fought for the downtrodden cannot sit with bandits to negotiate payments,” he said.
The governor went on to highlight an initiative launched two weeks ago in which his administration built houses for victims of insurgency a direct investment in those affected by violence, rather than appeasing those responsible.
“I haven’t given one naira to bandits,” Sani stated firmly. “But I have built homes for those displaced and traumatized by their actions.”
His comments come amid increasing national scrutiny of how state governments manage rising insecurity and banditry across the region.
