Ndume: I Have Never Been an Intermediary for Boko Haram

Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South Senatorial District, has firmly denied allegations that he received ransom funds or acted as an intermediary between the Federal Government and Boko Haram, insisting that he has consistently opposed negotiating with the terrorist group.

Ndume was responding to claims made by Samaila Kaigama, President of the Borno South Youth Alliance, who accused him of serving as a mediator in negotiations involving residents of Ngoshe in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State who were abducted by insurgents.

Kaigama alleged that the Federal Government gave Ndume ₦5 billion to negotiate with Boko Haram, claiming that only ₦1.9 billion was eventually paid to the terrorists while the remaining funds could not be accounted for.

Speaking on Friday during an appearance on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, Ndume described the allegations as false and maintained that he has always rejected ransom payments and negotiations with Boko Haram.

“Let me state this here, that I, up to now, and even in the future, do not support negotiating with Boko Haram or paying any ransom,” he said.

The senator explained that he held the same position during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, when negotiations involving prisoner exchanges reportedly took place.

Ndume said he could not speak on decisions taken by the government but noted that several individuals who previously claimed to be intermediaries later turned out to be fraudsters.

He disclosed that some of those individuals had been prosecuted, while others remained under investigation by security agencies.

According to the lawmaker, the Federal Government is already investigating Kaigama’s allegations regarding the alleged ₦5 billion payment.

Ndume questioned Kaigama’s authority to make such claims, asking who appointed him as a mediator between himself and Boko Haram.

The senator also recalled that he was arrested and prosecuted in 2011 over alleged links to a supposed Boko Haram negotiator.

He said he spent about six weeks in detention while the Department of State Services conducted investigations before the matter proceeded to court.

According to him, the case lasted six years before it was dismissed due to a lack of evidence.

Ndume maintained that the proper course of action is for Kaigama to provide proof of his allegations, expressing confidence that the ongoing government investigation would establish the facts surrounding the claims.