The Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has denied allegations that he acted as an intermediary between kidnappers and the government or private individuals, insisting he has never participated in ransom negotiations.
Ndume spoke during an interview on ARISE NEWS on Tuesday in response to allegations made by the President of the Borno South Youth Alliance, Samaila Kaigama, who accused him of involvement in the handling of an alleged ransom linked to the release of abducted residents of Ngoshe, Borno State.
The lawmaker said his only involvement was notifying security agencies after Kaigama contacted him over a video purportedly released by Boko Haram/ISWAP demanding a N5bn ransom following the abduction of hundreds of residents.
“I have never, directly or indirectly, acted as an intermediary between kidnappers and any government or private individuals. Not at all,” Ndume said.
According to him, Kaigama contacted him after insurgents allegedly abducted 416 residents of Ngoshe and later released a video demanding ransom.
“On Eid-el-Kabir, Boko Haram invaded Ngoshe village in my local government and abducted 416 citizens… He contacted me to say that Boko Haram/ISWAP have issued an ultimatum of 72 hours to pay a ransom of N5 billion.
“When I saw the video, I asked him, ‘Have you contacted the security agencies?’ I immediately reached out to the NSA, DSS and other relevant security agencies, including the military, and shared his contact with them,” he said.
Ndume said he deliberately distanced himself from any discussion on ransom payments and only linked Kaigama with security agencies.
“He wanted to use me or to come through me for the payment of ransom. I told him I don’t want to be involved… The best I could do was to connect him with the appropriate authorities,” he said.
The senator reiterated that he had consistently opposed negotiating with terrorists or paying ransom.
“My position on ransom payment ab initio, or even negotiating with Boko Haram, is clear: I don’t support it, I’m not supporting it, and I will never support negotiating with Boko Haram, talk less of paying them ransom,” he said.
Ndume also called on security agencies to investigate the allegations, describing the matter as one of national security rather than a personal dispute.
“This has become or should be taken as a serious national security matter, not personal… I spoke with the various security agencies, and they promised they are going to take action,” he said.
He alleged that Kaigama later sought financial contributions from families of abductees, prompting him to end all communication with him.
“I cut off communication with him when he even asked people to pay money into a certain account, and they didn’t get results. The account details are with me here… He was extorting money because people are desperate,” Ndume alleged.
The lawmaker further dismissed claims that Boko Haram and ISWAP had observed a ceasefire.
“That is a lie, because just last Saturday, Boko Haram attempted to kidnap students of the Polytechnic in Monguno,” he said.
Ndume urged security agencies to invite all parties involved and establish the facts.
“Most importantly, I’m waiting for the security agencies to invite both of us and investigate this matter… because this borders not only on defamation, but on national security. It’s a very serious matter,” he said.
He maintained that his only concern has been to press the government to intensify efforts to rescue victims and improve security in the region.
“What I have been doing—and I will continue doing—is to pressurise the government to intensify efforts to rescue my people and defend them. I’m not involved in, and I don’t support, the payment of ransom,” he added.
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