By Editor
Kebbi State Governor Nasiru Idris, Kauran Gwandu, has come under public scrutiny after videos surfaced on Facebook and TikTok showing him distributing cash to security personnel, a gesture he said was meant to encourage their efforts against banditry and kidnapping in the state.
The clips, which went viral on Tuesday, captured the governor handing bundles of naira notes to uniformed officers during what aides described as a morale-boosting visit to a joint security outpost in Zuru Emirate.
Governor Idris, speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Ahmed Idris, explained that the cash was an “on-the-spot welfare support” for troops and vigilantes who had spent weeks in the bush repelling attacks by bandits and cattle rustlers terrorizing border communities.
“The governor understands the sacrifices these men make. Many have not seen their families for months. The gesture was to appreciate them and boost their resolve,” the statement read.
However, the videos triggered mixed reactions online. While some residents applauded the move as timely recognition for frontline operatives, others questioned the method, arguing that physical cash distribution could undermine transparency and discipline within the ranks.
Critics on social media further alleged that the funds may not reach all intended beneficiaries, with concerns that operatives at checkpoints or junior ranks could be shortchanged along the line.
“It’s not that we don’t support motivation for security, but cash in public creates room for diversion. Proper channels like allowances through command structures are safer,” said Kabiru Sani, a security analyst based in Birnin Kebbi.
Community leaders in Zuru and Danko-Wasagu LGAs offered a different view, insisting that the gesture had already lifted morale. “Our vigilantes told us they got the money same day. For once, they felt seen by government,” said Mallam Shehu Ribah, a ward head in Ribah.
The Kebbi State Government maintained that the money came from the governor’s security vote and was documented, with unit commanders present during disbursement to ensure accountability. The CPS added that SEMA and the Ministry for Local Government have been directed to propose a more structured welfare package for security personnel.
As banditry continues to displace farming communities in southern Kebbi, the debate underscores a larger dilemma: balancing urgent troop motivation with institutional accountability. For now, Governor Idris insists the priority is results, stating at a press briefing: “If giving cash immediately keeps one more village safe, I will do it. But we are also working on a sustainable system.”
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