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The senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has denied claims that he acted as an intermediary between bandits and the government to secure the release of abducted residents of Ngoshe, Borno State.
Ndume responded to allegations reportedly made by the President of the Borno South Youth Alliance, Samaila Kaigama, who claimed the senator played a role in negotiations linked to the release of the abductees.
Speaking on Channels Television, the lawmaker insisted he had never received ransom money or acted as a go-between for kidnappers and the government.
“I have said it already. In my life, I have never seen ₦1 billion cash at once, not to talk of ₦5 billion,” Ndume said.
“We are talking about ₦5 billion. It is not a small figure even if it is in the highest denomination, that is ₦1,000. I don’t think this place can take ₦5 billion if it is cash. That is, if cash was paid. If it was not paid by cash, which account was it paid to? Who was responsible for the payment? Is it the government, as he is claiming?”
Ndume maintained that he neither negotiated with the terrorists nor participated in any ransom arrangement.
He said his only involvement was alerting security agencies after Kaigama informed him about a video allegedly released by Boko Haram/ISWAP demanding a ₦5 billion ransom.
According to the senator, he immediately contacted the Department of State Services (DSS), the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), the military and the governor of Borno State to notify them of the development.
The controversy stems from the abduction of dozens of residents of Ngoshe, a border community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, who were kidnapped by bandits.
The victims were eventually freed after spending weeks in captivity. While details surrounding their release remain disputed, security authorities have not publicly confirmed that any ransom was paid.
Ndume has consistently maintained that he played no role in negotiations or ransom payments, insisting his intervention was limited to notifying relevant security agencies after learning of the kidnappers’ demands.
