The governor of Kaduna, Uba Sani has said that the recovery of kidnapped victims upsets those who profit from the state’s instability since it goes against their interests.
Speaking in the Kashim Ibrahim House council chambers on Saturday, Sani welcomed the 58 captives who had been liberated after being saved by security operatives.
The governor vowed to take action against individuals who exacerbate insecurity to further their own political and personal agendas and cautioned politicians against using security concerns for political advantage.
“The merchants of insecurity will not be happy with the release of these innocent souls because they are benefiting from insecurity,” Sani said.
“As an elected governor, I swore to protect the lives and property of the people of Kaduna state, and we have been doing our best to fulfil this obligation.
“Through our Kaduna peace model which emphasises the use of non-kinetic approach, Birnin Gwari which used to be ‘a no-go area’ for most people has become peaceful.
“Bandits have laid down their arms and markets that have been closed down for over 10 years have now been reopened and business activities have started booming in Birnin Gwari and parts of Giwa local government which was ravaged by insecurity.
“People of Kauru, Kajuru and parts of Kachia who are experiencing pockets of bandit attacks will soon be sleeping with their two eyes closed because security forces are on top of the situation.
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The success of the non-kinetic approach, according to the governor, irritates those who don’t care about the general welfare since they just use social media to express their displeasure.
He also stated that he would take action against people who disseminate lies and take advantage of insecurity, even if he is not worried by personal jabs from the opposition on social media.
“Politicising insecurity is not opposition and those elites who are doing so on social media don’t really care about the masses,” Sani added.
“They are just posting messages to further the political interests.”
The governor made these comments a few days after Nasir el-Rufai, his predecessor and erstwhile ally, claimed that the Kaduna government was compensating bandits for the captive release.
El-Rufai, who had a falling out with Sani during the 2023 elections, was reacting to an allegation that a Fulani leader, a nursing mother, and 37 other people had been kidnapped in Kaduna.
He wrote in part: “The bandits will be paid to release them early, and then the NSA will hand the victims over to the state government in a colorful ceremony. Propaganda trumps sensible governance.
“The terrorists, thus further financially empowered, will purchase even more sophisticated weapons and abduct even more people in Kaduna and elsewhere……that is the new ‘modus operandi’ of the geniuses in charge of our state these days.”
