Nigeria, Sept. 2 -- The former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has reiterated his claim that government officials are paying off bandits under the guise of a "non-kinetic" security strategy.

This was despite the rebuttal from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Kaduna State Government after Mr El-Rufai claimed, during a live interview on Channels Television, that authorities have been sending money and supplies to violent groups.

Claiming that the authorities are "empowering bandits", Mr El-Rufai alleged that criminal gangs in Kaduna, Niger, Zamfara and Katsina enjoy monthly stipends and food items from the government.

"What I will not do is to pay bandits, give them a monthly allowance, or send food to th...