Nigerian Armed Forces don’t back payment of money to criminal groups – DHQ

The Chief of Defence Operations, Major General Emeka Onumajuru, has stated that the Nigerian Armed Forces do not support or participate in paying money to bandits operating across the country, stressing that such an approach has proven ineffective.

Speaking on Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, Onumajuru said the military instead operates a Disarmament, Demobilisation, and Reintegration (DDR) programme in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for repentant criminals willing to lay down their arms.

“The armed forces of Nigeria do not support the payment of money to criminal groups. We are not part of that arrangement,” he said. “We have a DDR programme for criminals who have shown remorse. They surrender their weapons, undergo detailed profiling to determine their culpability, and are then transferred for rehabilitation.”

Onumajuru explained that the national DDR framework is anchored around Operation Safe Corridor in Gombe for the North-East and in Zamfara State for the North-West. He said the process ensures those found guilty of serious crimes face justice, while others, including forcibly conscripted individuals, are rehabilitated through the programme.

His comments follow allegations by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics claimed the federal government was “empowering bandits” by paying them allowances and sending food in the name of non-kinetic approaches to security. El-Rufai criticised what he described as a “kiss-the-bandits” policy, blaming it for the persistent insecurity in the country.

However, the ONSA dismissed El-Rufai’s claims as false. In a statement issued on Monday by spokesperson Zakari Mijinyawa, the ONSA said neither it nor any government agency under the current administration has paid ransom or offered inducements to bandits. “El-Rufai’s allegations are baseless and contradict verifiable facts. We have consistently warned Nigerians against paying ransom,” the statement read.

Onumajuru added that strengthening border security requires community participation and cooperation to ensure lasting peace.