The Kaduna State Government has accused former governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, of attempting to incite unrest in the state, warning that it would not tolerate any act capable of plunging the state back into violence and instability.

Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Suleiman Shuiabu, in a statement on Friday, said El-Rufai’s recent activities and public remarks amounted to a deliberate effort to sabotage the administration of Governor Uba Sani.

“The state government is compelled to issue this unequivocal and final warning to a former governor of the state, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, who, through a calculated mix of overt provocation and covert manipulation, is plotting to unleash mayhem across Kaduna State in a desperate bid to destabilise the state and drag it back into its dark and violent past,” Shuiabu stated.

He accused the former governor of seeking to undermine ongoing security and development efforts, particularly following the defeat of candidates aligned with him in the August 16 by-elections.

According to the commissioner, El-Rufai convened an “illegal and chaotic” political meeting on August 30, which degenerated into violence.

Shuiabu also faulted El-Rufai’s appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme on August 31, where he alleged that both federal and state governments were “bribing bandits” in Kaduna.

“These are not mere words; they are calculated, malicious lies designed to undermine security efforts, incite public anger, and legitimise criminality,” Shuiabu said, adding that such claims insult the sacrifices of security personnel and community leaders working to restore peace.

The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) had earlier dismissed El-Rufai’s claims, stating that neither it nor any agency under the current administration had ever paid or induced bandits. ONSA reaffirmed that the government’s position remained consistent—rejecting ransom payments while pursuing coordinated security operations.

Highlighting progress under Governor Uba Sani, Shuiabu said security agencies, in collaboration with communities, had restored calm to previously volatile areas such as Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Kajuru, and Kauru, while several notorious bandit leaders had been eliminated or arrested.

“For a former governor to publicly deny these hard-won victories, and in doing so insult the memory of officers who died in the line of duty, is beyond shameful. It is dangerous. It is a deliberate act of sabotage,” Shuiabu added.

The commissioner also outlined achievements of the current administration in healthcare, education, financial inclusion, and infrastructure, insisting that El-Rufai’s criticisms were attempts to distract from visible progress.

“The Kaduna State Government will do whatever it takes, within the bounds of the law, to preserve the peace and stability that our people have worked so hard to rebuild. No individual, no matter how highly placed or previously powerful, will be allowed to destabilise the state,” the statement warned.

Shuiabu urged residents to reject “divisive rhetoric” and support ongoing peacebuilding efforts. “The peace of Kaduna State is non-negotiable. Anyone who dares to threaten it, be it Nasir El-Rufai or any of his accomplices, will be held accountable,” he said.