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The Borno State government has dismissed reports alleging that ransom was paid before the release of 360 abductees from a terrorist enclave in the Mandara Mountains, a commissioner said on Monday.
Usman Tar, Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, conveyed the government’s position during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief programme.
“Who paid the ransom? And the ransom was paid to who? Where is the evidence?” Tar asked.
“We are the operatives on the ground. There was no ransom payment. There was a daring military operation with intelligence support from the DSS that led to the rescue of the 360 citizens. That is the fact on the ground.If there are any counter facts, then you can pursue that.”
On Sunday, Operation Hadin Kai announced the rescue of the abductees from the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) enclave.
In a statement, Acting Media Information Officer Lieutenant Colonel Haruna Sani said the operation involved Special Forces and Sector 1 troops.
He said the operation followed weeks of intelligence gathering, covert reconnaissance and detailed operational planning.
The victims – men, women and children – were held in harsh conditions after being abducted from several communities, particularly around the Ngoshe axis, Sani added.
Tar argued that the Boko Haram insurgency has evolved beyond its original ideological foundation into a criminal enterprise driven by abduction and exploitation.
“The Boko Haram insurgency started as a result of the ideological mindset of a few individuals who started the campaigns,” he said.
“But those individuals have gone. The Boko Haram insurgency has since transmuted into a big business. So that is what is going on right now. And there is no other explanation.”
He pointed out that while there is room for different interpretations of Boko Haram’s actions in public discourse, the state government insists that the group is made up of criminals who want to terrorise civilians.
“As far as we are concerned, we are dealing with criminals, who are out to vandalise, criminalise and terrorise our people, and we are not going to rest on our oars,” he said.
