MBF Supports Defence Minister's Claims Against El-Rufai

The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has expressed its support for Defence Minister Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.) regarding his statements about former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai. The MBF urged Musa not to apologize for his comments made during a September 3, 2026, appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he accused El-Rufai of orchestrating violence and paying bandits.

The forum called for an independent investigation into alleged killings and payments to bandits during El-Rufai's administration, demanding prosecution at the International Criminal Court if found culpable. MBF National Spokesman Luka Binniyat stated that the minister's remarks reflected the experiences of affected communities and rejected claims that violence during El-Rufai's tenure was inherited from previous governments.

Binniyat cited specific incidents, including the 2016 arrest of community leaders and the 2019 Kajuru crisis, to illustrate the alleged failures of El-Rufai's administration in addressing violence.