The governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, has dismissed claims that he gave money to bandits, stating instead that his administration has prioritized support for victims of banditry by constructing houses for them.
Speaking on Thursday during an interview on Prime Time, an Arise Television programme, Sani addressed the allegations, recalling that upon assuming office, some critics accused him of attempting to pay off bandits as a way to tackle insecurity in the state.
“I told them that a man who fought for justice and freedom of the downtrodden cannot sit down with bandits,” he said.
The governor noted that just two weeks ago, he initiated a housing project for victims of insurgency in Kaduna as a clear alternative to compensating criminals.
“I have not given one naira to the bandits, but I have built houses for the victims of banditry in Kaduna,” he added.
He emphasized that for such efforts to be effective, they must be led by the community.
“As a governor you cannot champion that; it must be a community-based initiative. They must own it,” he said.
Sani also highlighted that Kaduna has not experienced farmer-herder clashes recently, attributing the peace to an inclusive governance model adopted by his administration, which engages all communities.
“Today in Kaduna, we have not had a single farmer-herder crisis. We solve this through inclusivity. You need to include everyone. President Tinubu didn’t need to come to the north to tell you how to run your state,” he said.