Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has dismissed allegations linking him to ransom negotiations with kidnappers, insisting he has never received ransom money or acted as a middleman between terrorists and the government.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, the lawmaker described the claims as false, stressing that he had never seen N1 billion in cash, let alone the N5 billion mentioned in the allegations.
“I have said it already. In my life, I have never seen N1 billion cash, not to talk of N5 billion,” he said.
Ndume was reacting to accusations made by the President of the Borno South Youth Alliance, Samaila Kaigama, who alleged that the senator was involved in negotiations following the abduction of residents of Ngoshe in Borno State.
The senator explained that his only involvement was notifying security authorities after Kaigama informed him about a video allegedly released by Boko Haram/ISWAP demanding a N5 billion ransom for the victims.
According to him, he immediately contacted the National Security Adviser and the Department of State Services (DSS), urging them to investigate the matter and allow Kaigama to present evidence to support his claims.
“After Kaigama came to make those claims on television, I quickly spoke with the National Security Adviser and the Department of State Services on the matter. I told them there is a need to bring us together and hear him out so he can prove all these allegations.
“The government should take this matter very seriously because it borders on national security. It’s very dangerous. This has to do with international security because ISWAP and other terrorist organisations are involved,” he said.
Ndume further stated that his relationship with Kaigama deteriorated after he refused requests to support ransom payments, maintaining that he has consistently opposed negotiating with terrorists.
“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 then began making uncoordinated and contradictory statements about my involvement,” he added.
The senator noted that he had earlier rejected the allegations during an interview on ARISE NEWS, reiterating that he has never, directly or indirectly, served as an intermediary between kidnappers and either the government or private individuals.
He explained that Kaigama first approached him after insurgents reportedly abducted hundreds of residents of Ngoshe and issued a 72-hour ultimatum demanding a N5 billion ransom.
Ndume also called on security agencies to carry out a thorough investigation into the allegations, stressing that the issue should be treated as a serious national security concern rather than a personal disagreement.
