92-year-old Shettima Ali Monguno soon after he re-united with his family in Maiduguri yesterday, following three days in the hands of kidnappers. Elder statesman Shettima Ali Monguno regained his freedom yesterday after spending three days in the hands of unknown kidnappers. He was released upon the payment of a N20 million ransom, security sources told Daily Trust yesterday. Monguno, 92, was kidnapped by a four- man gang on Friday after observing his Juma’at prayers at the Mafoni mosque in one of the restive areas of Maiduguri which has been the hotbed of insurgency since 2009.
Family and government sources told our correspondent that he was dumped by his captors in the early hours of yesterday in Karenuwa, Marte Local Government Area, about 140 kilometers north-east of the Borno State Capital. The kidnappers had soon after seizing Monguno on Friday made contact with his family and demanded for ‘alms’ without specifying any amount. A security officer involved with the efforts to free Monguno told Daily Trust that the state government paid N20 million ransom before the abductors made further contact with the family and told them where to find the elder statesman. But Governor Kashim Shettima, who visited Monguno’s Government Reservation Area (GRA) residence at about 1pm yesterday, told journalists no ransom was paid for his release. “They (abductors) contacted his family after several appeals from Nigerians for his release. But his family also made an appeal to the abductors to release him. They sent words that he should be picked in the morning, so we sent his personal aides with a vehicle to get him home,” he said. On whether ransom was paid, Shettima said: “The family does not have the capacity to pay ransom. Obviously Monguno was a philanthropist, who had spent all he had in the cause of humanity. So the issue of money was out of it because the family had no money to pay. It is just that the abductors decided to release him after numerous appeals from Nigerians.” Monguno appeared weak and tired as the governor spoke to him. Some of his relatives were seen weeping at the residence, but he tried to console them by saying: “They did not kill me, so don’t cry.” Shettima also appealed to the members of the Boko Haram sect to lay down their arms and embrace dialogue. “I want to appeal again to the Boko Haram sect members to lay down their arms for the sake of peace and unity of the various ethnic and religious groups in the state,” he said.
“Let’s pray so that peace could be restored in this state and the entire Northern part of this country. The media has also managed very well the crises of the abduction and eventual release of our father and elder statesman today.” In spite of Shettima’s denial of the payment of ransom, sources said N20 million was paid despite the strong opposition to that by the security authorities who believed they had located the kidnappers. “The governor was briefed severally…he was warned of the implications of paying the ransom which will ultimately give more confidence to the terrorists but he appeared not convinced,” a source said. He added that meetings were also held with many stakeholders to try to convince the government and the Monguno family not to cave in to the demand of the abductors. “Most importantly, the abduction issue has been politicised and some people are already pointing fingers at us (security agencies), as such we have to be cautious in whatever we do. We have to do whatever we can to prove that our hands are clean,” he said. The security source said kidnapping for ransom has been on the rise in Borno State as about 25 prominent men and women were abducted recently and millions were paid. He expressed fear that the Boko Haram insurgents are being empowered every day with the ransom payments. “They are becoming richer, more sophisticated and fearless because they have enormous resources,” he said. When Daily Trust contacted a senior official to confirm if the state government paid the ransom, he said, “Frankly speaking, I don’t know. I cannot say yes or no but one thing that is important is that the old man is back home, hale and hearty.” digg
www.dailytrust.com.ng/index.php/top-stories/53912-monguno-freed-on-n20m-ransom-shettima-no-money-paid