THE Chief of Defence Operations, Major General Emeka Onumajuru, has affirmed that the Nigerian Armed Forces do not endorse financial transactions with bandits or criminal groups operating in various parts of the country.
Speaking at an interview today, Onumajuru emphasized that experience shows such payments are ineffective.
“The armed forces of Nigeria do not support the payment of money to criminal groups and are not involved in any such arrangements,” he said.
Instead, the military works alongside the Ministry of Justice and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) through a Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) program.
This initiative targets criminals who show remorse, surrender their weapons, undergo detailed profiling, and, depending on their level of culpability, enter rehabilitation programs.
“The national DDR framework, anchored by Operation Safe Corridor in Gombe and Zamfara States, provides an alternative for bandits who want to abandon criminal activities. Those found truly culpable face the law, while others undergo the DDR process,” Onumajuru explained.
He also stressed that communities play a crucial role in border security by fostering a sense of responsibility and belonging.
The comments come after former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai claimed on Sunday Politics that the government had been “empowering bandits” by providing them with monthly allowances and food, describing it as a “kiss-the-bandits” policy.
El-Rufai criticized the rehabilitation of criminals without ensuring accountability, attributing it to ongoing insecurity in the country.
However, the Federal Government, through ONSA, dismissed these claims as baseless.
In a statement signed by Zakari Mijinyawa, ONSA said:
“At no time has the ONSA, or any arm of government under this administration, engaged in ransom payments or inducements to criminals. We have consistently warned Nigerians against paying ransom. El-Rufai’s allegations are false and contradict verifiable facts.”
Major General Onumajuru’s remarks underscore the military’s commitment to lawful approaches to security challenges while highlighting the DDR program as a structured pathway for former criminals to reintegrate into society.