Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has denied allegations that he acted as an intermediary in ransom negotiations between terrorists and the government or private individuals, insisting he has never supported or participated in any such arrangement.
Mr Ndume made the clarification during an interview on ARISE NEWS on Tuesday while responding to allegations 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 in Borno State.
The lawmaker described the allegation as false, maintaining that his only role was to alert security agencies after Kaigama contacted him over a video purportedly released by Boko Haram/ISWAP demanding a N5 billion ransom following the abduction of hundreds of villagers.
“I have never, directly or indirectly, acted as an intermediary between kidnappers and any government or private individuals. Not at all,” Mr Ndume said.
Recounting the incident, the senator said Kaigama reached out to him during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration after insurgents allegedly invaded Ngoshe in Gwoza Local Government Area and abducted 416 residents.
“On Eid-el-Kabir, Boko Haram invaded Ngoshe village in my local government and abducted 416 citizens. He contacted me to say Boko Haram/ISWAP had issued a 72-hour ultimatum 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 National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services and other relevant security agencies, including the military, and shared his contact with them,” he said.
Mr Ndume stressed that he deliberately distanced himself from any discussion on ransom payment, insisting that his only intervention was to connect Kaigama with the appropriate security authorities.
“He wanted to use me or 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 his long-standing opposition to negotiating with terrorists or paying ransom to secure the release of victims.
“My position on ransom payment from the beginning, 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, let alone paying them ransom,” he stated.
Mr Ndume also called on security agencies to thoroughly investigate the allegations, describing the matter as one that concerns national security rather than a personal disagreement.
“This has become, or should be taken as, a serious national security matter, not a personal issue. I spoke with the various security agencies, and they promised they are going to take action,” he said.
He further alleged that Kaigama later solicited financial contributions from families of the abductees, prompting him to sever all communication with him.
“I cut off communication with him when he 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 senator urged security agencies to invite all parties involved to establish the facts.
“Most importantly, I’m waiting for the security agencies to invite both of us and investigate this matter because it borders not only on defamation but on national security. It is a very serious matter,” he said.
Mr Ndume maintained that his priority has always been to press the government to intensify efforts to rescue victims of insurgency and improve security in the North-East.
“What I have been doing, and will continue to do, is to pressure the government to intensify efforts to rescue my people and defend them. I am not involved in, and I do not support, the payment of ransom,” he added.