Senator Ali Ndume has dismissed allegations that he acted as a negotiator between the Federal Government and Boko Haram or received ransom money, insisting that he has always opposed negotiating with the terrorist group.
The Senator representing Borno South made the clarification while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, following allegations by Samaila Kaigama, President of the Borno South Youth Alliance.
Kaigama had claimed that the Federal Government allegedly gave Ndume ₦5 billion to negotiate with Boko Haram over the release of abducted residents of Ngoshe in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, alleging that only ₦1.9 billion was eventually paid to the insurgents.
Reacting to the claims, Ndume described the allegations as false, stressing that he has consistently opposed negotiating with Boko Haram or paying ransom to secure the release of kidnapped victims.
“I, up to now, and even in the future, do not support negotiating with Boko Haram or paying any ransom. That has been my position from the beginning,” he said.
The lawmaker recalled that he also opposed negotiations with the insurgents during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, including reported prisoner exchange arrangements.
Ndume said he could not speak on behalf of the government regarding previous ransom payments, adding that some individuals who claimed to be mediators in the past were later exposed as fraudsters.
“What I’m saying is about myself. I’m not supposed to speak for the government,” he stated.
He disclosed that the Federal Government is already investigating Kaigama’s allegations and questioned who authorised Kaigama to serve as a mediator between the government and Boko Haram.
The senator also recalled his own experience in 2011, when he was arrested, detained for about six weeks and prosecuted over alleged links to a supposed Boko Haram negotiator.
According to him, the case lasted six years before it was eventually dismissed due to lack of evidence.
Ndume maintained that the appropriate step is for security agencies to invite Kaigama to provide evidence to support his claims.
