By Desire Emmanuel
Former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has written to the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, accusing his office of procuring thallium sulphate, a highly toxic chemical compound, which he alleged would be used to silence opposition leaders in the country.
El-Rufai stated this in a post on his verified X handle on Sunday, February 15, accompanied by the letter he wrote dated January 30, 2026.
According to the former governor, information available to opposition political leaders indicated that the Office of the National Security Adviser had procured approximately 10 kilogrammes of thallium sulphate from a supplier in Poland.
Describing thallium salts as highly toxic and tightly controlled substances, El-Rufai said public safety, democratic accountability and trust in national institutions required immediate clarification from the NSA.
He wrote: “As part of my duty as a citizen, I wrote to the NSA to seek clarification on reports about the importation by his office of thallium sulphate, a very dangerous toxin. It’s a matter of concern if anyone brings in any poison, more so an odourless, colourless one.”
Part of the letter also reads: “I am writing as a concerned citizen to seek clarification and reassurance regarding information available to the political opposition leadership about a procurement of approximately 10 kilogrammes of Thallium Sulphate by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), reportedly from a supplier in Poland.”
El-Rufai also sought clarification on the total quantity and specific form or concentration procured, as well as storage and security arrangements upon arrival.
The former governor further asked about regulatory oversight and coordination with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), including whether public-health risk assessments or hazard-mitigation plans had been developed.
