Ndume denies negotiating, collecting N5 billion ransom for Ngoshe victims

As reactions continue to trail allegations by the leader of Bono South Youth Alliance president, Samaila Ibrahim Kaigama that Senator Ali Ndume served as negotiator for the kidnapped 416 Ngoshe residents, Ndume denied playing any role.

Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, dismissed the allegation, said, he has never handled N1 billion in cash in his life, not to talk of N5 billion he was accused of.

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Mounting his defence on the allegation on Channels Television on Friday, the lawmaker described the claim as false, insisted that he played no role.

“I have said it before. In my entire life, I have never seen N1 billion in cash, let alone N5 billion,” the senator said.

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According to him, he reported the matter to security agencies after Samaila Kaigama informed him about the video allegedly released by Boko Haram/ISWAP demanding for ransom payment of N5 billion.

He noted that he never got involved in negotiations or facilitate any funds releases for kidnappers.

Ndume said he contacted the National Security Adviser and the Department of State Services (DSS), urging them to invite Kaigama to substantiate his allegations.

“I told them that there is need to bring us and hear him out as he said he wants to be heard, so that he will have the opportunity to prove all these his allegations.

Ndume urged the to treat the matter with seriousness as it bothers on national security because of the involvement of ISWAP.

“It’s very dangerous. This has to do with international security because ISWAP and all these terrorist organizations are involved.”

He suspected that Kaigama’s relationship with him deteriorated because he declined his suggestion of ransom payment to secure release of kidnapped victims.

“So after he started bothering me about personal contribution to ransom payment, I told him that I do not support negotiation with Boko Haram, not to talk of paying ransom. I think that’s where the problem started.

“He started issuing out all these uncoordinated and contradictory statements about my involvement and the likes,” Ndume said.

The senator noted that he had earlier rejected the allegations during an interview on ARISE News, stressing that he had never acted, directly or indirectly, as an intermediary between kidnappers and the government or private individuals.

Ndume explained that Kaigama first contacted him after insurgents allegedly abducted hundreds of residents of Ngoshe and issued a 72-hour ultimatum demanding a N5 billion ransom.

He added that he would take legal actions over Kaigama for defamation of character.

He also called on security agencies to thoroughly investigate the allegations, arguing that the matter should be treated as a national security concern rather than a personal dispute.

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