Senator Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, has dismissed allegations that he participated in ransom negotiations or handled payments to secure the release of kidnapped victims.
The lawmaker made the clarification during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, July 24, while responding to accusations made by Samaila Kaigama, President of the Borno South Youth Alliance.
Kaigama had alleged that Ndume was involved in negotiations relating to the release of residents of Ngoshe in Borno State who were abducted by terrorists.
Rejecting the claims, Ndume said he has never handled the huge sums being mentioned in connection with the incident.
“I have said it already. In my life, I have never seen ₦1 billion cash, not to talk of ₦5 billion,” the senator said.
Ndume stressed that he neither negotiated with the kidnappers nor took part in any ransom arrangement. According to him, his only role was to notify security agencies after Kaigama informed him about a video allegedly released by Boko Haram/ISWAP.
He explained that the video reportedly contained a demand for a ₦5 billion ransom in exchange for the release of the abducted residents.
The senator maintained that after passing the information to the relevant security authorities, he had no further involvement in the matter and did not participate in any discussions or negotiations with the terrorist group.
