Thursday, October 29, 2026

If not for me, Buhari won’t know bandits have vowed to kidnap him: El-Rufai

Mr El-Rufai’s assertion calls into doubt Mr Buhari’s awareness of the country’s worsening security challenges and the coordination between his administration and security and intelligence

• July 28, 2022
Governor Nasir El-Rufai and President Muhammadu Buhari
Governor Nasir El-Rufai and President Muhammadu Buhari

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna claimed on Wednesday that President Muhammadu Buhari was not aware of bandits’ threats to abduct him. 

“This is why I met with the president on Sunday and told him about these problems. I also told him about the video because up to that day, he was not even aware.

“I told him, and the following day, Zamfara State governor Bello Matawalle also confirmed to him that he saw the video too, to take action,” he said on a radio program.

Bandits on Sunday released a video torturing victims of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack and also threatened the abduction of Messrs Buhari and El-Rufai. 

The Kaduna governor added during the interview that he was worried about the security situation and “hoped that the federal government will do the right thing.” 

Mr El-Rufai’s assertion calls into doubt Mr Buhari’s awareness of the country’s worsening insecurity and the coordination between the presidency and security and intelligence agencies.  

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Idris Wase, had also disclosed that Mr Buhari failed to act on available intelligence reports by the State Security Service before the Kuje correctional facility was attacked by hundreds of Boko Haram members. 

“You can imagine what is happening today in Abuja. I will be frank with you. I went through DSS reports. 44 reports were given before the attack on Kuje. I want to say so, I want to confirm to you, 44. I went through all the reports. And it all has to do with this,” Mr Wase said during a plenary session. 

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

Nigerian Bar Association

States

Independence: NBA urges Nigerians to expect better future

The NBA said that ordinary Nigerians should be deriving benefit from the subsidy removal rather than hardship.

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Kingsley Eselebor

Abuja

FCT court jails FCDA employee Kingsley Eselebor for defrauding neighbour in failed land deal

The judge ordered that the prison terms should run concurrently, without an option of a fine.

Joseph Tegbe

Heading 4

FG pays N1.2 trillion power debt, targets 19,000MW transmission capacity

Mr Tegbe said the payment formed part of broader efforts to address liquidity challenges.

PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU

Economy

Tinubu to present 2027 budget in December: Minister

The presentation will allow the National Assembly to begin reviewing the 2027 budget ahead of the fiscal year.

Troops

States

Troops foil terrorists’ attack in Sokoto, rescue two abducted herders in Zamfara

The rescued victims were subsequently handed over to the Sabon Birni Local Government authorities.

Tommy Robinson

Heading 2

Jury finds Tommy Robinson guilty of harassing Daily Mail journalists

Mr Robinson made social media posts encouraging the protesters.

Estate surveyor

States

Estate surveyors urge members to embrace AI, emerging technologies

The lecturer urged practitioners to move beyond established practices.