Nigerian lawmaker, Senator Ali Ndume, has dismissed allegations that he acted as an intermediary between kidnappers and the government.
Speaking on ARISE TV on Tuesday, the senator representing Borno South said he has never, directly or indirectly, served as an intermediary between kidnappers and the government or any private individual.
He urged Nigerians to disregard the claims.
Ndume said: “I have never, directly or indirectly, acted as an intermediary between kidnappers and any government or private individuals. Not at all.”
“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 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 NSA, DSS and other relevant security agencies, including the military, and shared his contact with them.”
“He wanted to use me or come through me for the payment of ransom. I told him I didn’t want to be involved… The best I could do was to connect him with the appropriate authorities.”
“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, let alone paying them ransom.”
“This has become, or should be taken as, a serious national security matter, not a personal one… I spoke with the various security agencies, and they promised they are going to take action.”
“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.”
“That is a lie because, just last Saturday, Boko Haram attempted to kidnap students of the Polytechnic in Monguno.”
“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 also on national security. It’s a very serious matter.”
“What I have been doing and will continue to do 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.”