Kaduna State Governor has defended the state’s non-kinetic security strategy, dismissing allegations that his administration has been paying bandits or treating them with undue leniency.

Speaking on the issue, the governor described such claims as “pure politics,” stressing that critics are more interested in scoring political points than in the safety and stability of the state, adding, “Some politicians are just playing with security.

They are not sincere. They are simply trying to misguide and misinform the public. But in Kaduna, no one has paid a naira to bandits. Not one dime,” he declared.

According to him, the much-talked-about “Kaduna model” is a community-based initiative spearheaded by local and religious leaders, not by government handouts or ransom payments.

He emphasized that the government merely gave a listening ear to the concerns of the people, who sought non-violent approaches to peace.

My most important responsibility as governor is to protect the lives and property of our people.

When community leaders came up with this initiative, we listened. That’s why it has worked,” he explained.

The governor noted that many initially doubted the viability of the Kaduna model, but it has since yielded results.

As proof, he cited a recent report from Birnin Gwari, where community members themselves testified that they had not received any money from the government or any external source.

The Kaduna model has nothing to do with ransom payments. It’s about dialogue, trust-building, and community engagement. That’s why it is working,” he said.

Observers say Kaduna’s experience highlights the broader debate in Nigeria over whether non-kinetic methods such as dialogue, community participation, and deradicalization can complement military action in addressing insecurity.

For Kaduna, the governor insists the answer is clear: the approach is already a success story.