I never acted as intermediary between kidnappers and anyone, says Ndume + Video

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 while responding to allegations by the President of the Borno South Youth Alliance, Samaila Kaigama, over the handling of an alleged ransom linked to the release of abducted residents of Ngoshe in Borno State.

The lawmaker said 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 residents.

Ndume said: “I have never, directly or indirectly, acted as an intermediary between kidnappers and any government or private individuals.

“Not at all.”

He explained that Kaigama reached out to him after insurgents allegedly abducted 416 residents of Ngoshe and later issued a 72-hour ultimatum.

According to him: “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.”

Ndume said he immediately alerted the relevant security agencies after receiving the video.

He said: “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.”

The senator maintained that he refused to participate in any discussion relating to ransom payments.

He said: “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.”

Reaffirming his long-standing position, Ndume added: “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 called on security agencies to investigate the allegations thoroughly.

According to him: “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.”

Ndume further alleged that Kaigama later solicited money from relatives of the abducted victims.

He said: “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.”

The senator also dismissed claims that Boko Haram and ISWAP had observed a ceasefire.

He said: “That is a lie, because just last Saturday, Boko Haram attempted to kidnap students of the Polytechnic in Monguno.”

Urging the authorities to establish the facts, Ndume said: “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 maintained that his priority remained the safety of his constituents.

Ndume added: “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.”

𝕤𝕖𝕖 𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕖/𝕨𝕒𝕥𝕔𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕧𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕠 𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖