BY JULIET EKWENUGO
Kaduna
The Northern Citizens’ Group has called on security agencies to investigate former Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, over his claim that he tapped the phone conversations of the National Security Adviser (NSA), describing the statement as a serious national security matter that requires urgent clarification.
In a statement issued to journalists in Kaduna on Sunday, the president of the group, Yusuf Kanhu, urged relevant authorities to determine the authenticity of the claim and compel the former governor to provide full details of the alleged action.
Kanhu said if the claim is true, it would amount to unlawful interference with official security communications, but if untrue, it could undermine public confidence in national security institutions.
According to him, monitoring the communication of a serving National Security Adviser without lawful authorization would constitute a grave offence. He added that public comments on sensitive security matters must be handled with caution.
“If he actually monitored the conversations of a serving National Security Adviser, then this is a grave matter that borders on national sabotage. But if he did not, he must explain why he would make such an alarming claim,” the statement said.
The group also questioned whether such alleged actions, if they occurred, could have compromised security operations at the time. It urged security agencies to ensure that anyone found to have unlawfully interfered with official communications is held accountable in accordance with the law.
El-Rufai served as governor of Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023. During his tenure, the state experienced recurring incidents of banditry, kidnappings and communal violence, particularly in parts of Southern Kaduna and other affected communities.
The former governor had, at different times while in office, spoken publicly about security challenges in the state and efforts made by his administration to address them, including engagement with security agencies and other stakeholders.
In the latest statement, the Northern Citizens’ Group accused the former governor of attempting to present a different narrative about the security situation during his tenure. The group alleged that many communities were severely affected by attacks and that residents suffered significant losses.
It further alleged that some public statements made at the time contributed to tension across ethno-religious lines in the state. However, it did not provide specific instances in the statement.
The group also linked the former governor’s recent remarks to what it described as political developments following the inauguration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, though it did not elaborate on the connection.
Kanhu urged political leaders across party lines to exercise restraint in their public comments, especially on issues relating to national security, stressing that clarity on the alleged phone tapping claim is necessary to maintain public trust in the country’s security institutions.
