Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) has formally refuted allegations accusing him of acting as a mediator or ransom broker between terrorists and government authorities.
Speaking during a television interview on Tuesday, the lawmaker clarified that he has never participated in ransom negotiations, maintaining a firm stance against paying off insurgents.
The controversy follows statements made by Samaila Kaigama, President of the Borno South Youth Alliance (BOSYA), regarding the abduction of 416 residents from Ngoshe village in Borno State by Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters.
Clarifying the Ngoshe Abduction Timeline
Addressing the specifics of the incident, Ndume detailed the sequence of events after the insurgents invaded the Ngoshe community during the Eid-el-Kabir period and subsequently released a video demanding a ₦5 billion ransom within 72 hours.
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Initial Contact: Ndume stated that Kaigama contacted him after the insurgents issued their ransom ultimatum, seeking a channel to process the transaction.
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Refusal to Mediate: The senator explicitly rejected serving as a conduit for ransom discussions or funds.
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Security Escalation: Instead of facilitating negotiations, Ndume immediately forwarded the insurgents’ demand video and Kaigama’s contact details directly to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Department of State Services (DSS), and top military commanders.
“I have never, directly or indirectly, acted as an intermediary between kidnappers and any government or private individuals. Not at all… He wanted to use me or to come through me for the payment of ransom. I told him I don’t want to be involved. The best I could do was to connect him with the appropriate authorities.” — Senator Ali Ndume
Reaffirming Oppositional Stance on Ransom
The Borno South representative reiterated his long-standing public position against giving financial concessions to terror groups, arguing that ransom payments only serve to fuel insurgent operations across the North-East.
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ NDUME'S CLARIFIED POSITION │
├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ • Ransom Negotiations : Strongly opposed; maintains zero-concession │
│ policy toward terrorists. │
│ │
│ • Role in Ngoshe Crisis : Shared intelligence directly with NSA, DSS, │
│ and military leads—refused financial brokerage. │
│ │
│ • State of Emergency : Re-emphasized the need for a fully enforced │
│ security situation room to rescue captives unconditionally. │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
(Sources: ARISE News Interview & Public Statements)
Ndume urged federal and state authorities to deploy tactical intelligence, situational awareness centers, and overwhelming military pressure to safely rescue abducted citizens rather than yielding to blackmail.
Ayodele Quadri
Correspondent
