Northern youths demand probe, arrest of El-Rufai

By Abubakar Yunusa

The Coalition of Northern Nigeria Youth Groups, operating under the banner of the Northern Youth Frontiers, has asked the Federal Government to investigate and arrest a former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over alleged comments concerning a breach of the National Security Adviser’s communication line.

The group said it was disturbed by what it described as an alarming admission that El-Rufai was privy to information allegedly obtained from a hacked phone belonging to the National Security Adviser.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Sama Musa, the NYF said the issue transcended politics and bordered squarely on national security.

Musa said, “By claiming that an individual hacked the NSA’s phone and relayed the contents of private discussions to him, El-Rufai has confessed to being a direct beneficiary and potentially a coordinator of a sophisticated cyber-espionage operation.

“This is not merely a political dispute; it is a grave issue of national security. If the communication of the nation’s top security coordinator can be compromised and the intercepted data shared with unauthorised individuals, the entire intelligence infrastructure of Nigeria is at risk.”

The group insisted that the allegation raised serious concerns about the integrity of the country’s intelligence architecture and demanded an immediate and thorough probe by security agencies.

It urged investigators to identify all collaborators and technical accomplices allegedly involved in the hacking and ensure that anyone found culpable is prosecuted in line with the Cybercrimes Act and other relevant laws.

The NYF further called on the Federal Government to treat the matter as a serious breach of national security and act swiftly to safeguard the nation’s institutions.

“The NYF asserts that this crime was not committed in isolation. We demand that Nasir El-Rufai be held accountable for his involvement in and knowledge of this breach. All collaborators and technical accomplices who facilitated the hacking of the NSA’s phone must be identified and arrested immediately,” Musa said.

He added that allowing such an alleged admission to go unchecked could send a dangerous signal of impunity and weaken public confidence in the country’s democratic and security institutions.

“The integrity of our national security institutions is the only thing standing between order and chaos. We cannot allow individuals to compromise these institutions for personal or political gain,” he stated.

The group reiterated its call for prompt action by relevant authorities to protect Nigeria’s democratic order and security framework.