Senator Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South, has dismissed claims that he acted as a middleman between kidnappers and the government or private individuals, insisting he has never been involved in ransom negotiations.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE NEWS on Tuesday, Ndume was responding to allegations by the President of the Borno South Youth Alliance, Samaila Kaigama, who accused him of playing a role in the handling of an alleged ransom linked to the release of abducted residents of Ngoshe in Borno State.
Ndume explained that his only role was alerting security agencies after Kaigama contacted him about a video allegedly released by Boko Haram/ISWAP demanding a ₦5 billion ransom for the release of hundreds of kidnapped villagers.
“I have never, directly or indirectly, acted as an intermediary between kidnappers and any government or private individuals. Not at all,” he said.
According to the senator, Kaigama reached out to him after insurgents reportedly abducted 416 residents of Ngoshe and later issued a 72-hour ultimatum for a ₦5 billion 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.”
Ndume said Kaigama wanted him to help facilitate the ransom payment, but he refused and instead directed him to the appropriate security authorities.
“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.”
The senator maintained that he has always 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 also urged security agencies to thoroughly investigate the allegations, stressing that the issue should be treated as a matter of national security rather than a personal disagreement.
“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.”
