Contrary to the claim by the Nigerian government through the Information Minister Lai Mohammed, the government paid a “large ransom” to free scores of female students kidnapped by the Boko Haram from their school in Dapchi, Yobe State, earlier this year, the United Nations has said.

Over 100 girls were kidnapped from the Dapchi school by a Boko Haram faction in February this year with about 105 of them later released by the terrorists. One of them, Leah Sharibu, who reportedly refused to denounce her Christian faith, is still with the abductors.

Following the release of the girls, about a month after they were kidnapped, Mr Mohammed told journalists that it was not true ransom was paid for their release.

‘’It is not true that we paid ransom for the release of the Dapchi girls, neither was there a prisoner swap to secure their release,” Mr. Mohammed told journalists in Maiduguri with his statement circulated by his office to media organisations including PREMIUM TIMES.

“What happened was that the abduction itself was a breach of the ceasefire talks between the insurgents and the government; hence it became a moral burden on the abductors. Any report that we paid ransom or engaged in prisoner swap is false.”

A UN report has now shown Mr Mohammed’s claim to be false.

The report recently submitted to the UN Security Council on Boko Haram and related terrorist organisations, said such ransom and the predominance of cash economy was providing oxygen for the insurgency around the Lake Chad region.

The UN report is titled “22nd Report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team”, related to Resolution 2368 (2017) regarding “Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant – ISIL – (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities.”

“In Nigeria, 111 schoolgirls from the town of Dapchi were kidnapped on 18 February 2018 and released by ISWAP on 21 March 2018 in exchange for a large ransom payment,” the report stated.

The UN report negating the Nigerian government’s stance reflects the manner of propaganda the Nigerian government and its military have been using to fight the war against Boko Haram.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the Nigerian military has repeatedly lied about military casualty in the war and, along with the government, claimed the Boko Haram sect was already defeated.

The government’s stance appears to be that suppressing information, or as in this case lying about it, would reduce the efficacy of the insurgents and thus limit their ability to carry out their terrorist acts.

The Dapchi girl’s ransom would not be the first by the Nigerian government to free victims held by Boko Haram. Huge ransom was also paid by the Buhari administration to free many of released Chibok girls kidnapped in 2014, senators including the leader of ruling party in the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, said. Although the move is largely welcomed by many Nigerians as it ensures freedom for the victims, experts fear it has helped fuel the insurgency by ensuring the Boko Haram has access to funds to buy more weapons and sustain themselves; a stance shared in the UN report.

OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING

Apart from ransom, the UN also listed other ways the Boko Haram group is being funded.

“…extortion, charitable donations, smuggling, remittances and kidnapping as parts of ways Boko Haram is funded,” the report stated as quoted by the News Agency of Nigeria.

The report also stated how some “doctrinally based non-governmental organisations” were funding Boko Haram and other terror groups.”

“The number of doctrinally based non-governmental organisations sending funds to local terrorist groups was growing, and Member States were concerned that radicalisation was increasing the threat level in the Sahel.

“Meanwhile, Boko Haram (QDe.138) and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have had a similar impact in their areas of control, including the Lake Chad basin.

“The predominance in the region of the cash economy, without controls, is conducive to terrorist groups funded by extortion, charitable donations, smuggling, remittances and kidnapping.”

According to NAN, “the report was signed by Edmund Fitton-Brown, Coordinator, Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, who said the report was “comprehensive and independent”, and Kairat Umarov, Chair, Security Council Committee.

Source:
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/280418-lai-mohammed-lied-nigerian-govt-paid-large-ransom-to-free-dapchigirls-un.html

Hmmm. I hate when criminals are rewarded. But on this issue, the U.N should spare us this sermon. Is there any country in the world that hasn't paid ransome? Ransomes are either in cash or in kind. The mighty USA has indulged in both types, so also Britain, France, Isreal, Japan.
Strangely,no country ever admits to paying ransom.

Nigeria government has been paying tax to Boko Haram since the inception of Buhari government

I tot people claimed there was no kidnap.

Are these people insulting Lai not THESAME PEOPLE THAT CLAIMED BOTH CHIBOK AND DAPCHI ARE HOAX?

Government of lies and propaganda.

Your end come 2019

Not that we believe them na.....



The resurgence of Boko Haram can be tied to the new war chest handed to them for the release...... Some people are benefitting seriously from the rot and that is why the war is not ending!

Is UN now working for PDP?

Arysexy:
Government of lies and propaganda.
Your end come 2019

Dream on..
I'll wake u up on 29th May,, 2019.

Arysexy:
Government of lies and propaganda.
Your end come 2019

Dream on..
I'll wake u up on 29th May,, 2019.

Arysexy:
Government of lies and propaganda.
Your end come 2019

Dream on..
I'll wake u up on 29th May,, 2019.

Churns to PDP strategy
By the time other reputable organization join the UN
Bubu go be like
Uza, the kwin lof Lumpdone BillTrade min

93Miles:


Dream on..

I'll wake u up on 29th May,, 2019.

Are you okay at all? Why quote me three times?

All this information is cool but it doesnt explain why Boko Haram qould keep Leah. If it is about money the would just pay extra and claim total victory. It's weird to say least I can't understand either parties logic.

One of them, Leah Sharibu, who reportedly refused to denounce her Christian faith, is still with the abductors.

Front page: Lalasticlala

Lies and propaganda are the order of the day with this government...

They just lie for any reason...

Nigger Area, paying the British, SOviets, and A-RABS to fight largely unarmed Biafrans for 3 years, paid Cameroon to close their borders during same three years, paid African mercenaries again to fight these people, paid British PR firm to counter current Pro Biafran groups, paying Boko Haram for years now, and the President currently paying Queen Eliza to use her hospitals and park his Presidential jet at her airports.....


A money loving corrupt society

Arysexy:


Are you okay at all? Why quote me three times?

Cos I really want u to see and have it at the back of ur mind.

Im surprised the UN would expose by leaking this information out. We can expect Response from Presidency soon if people keep keep talking about this.

docadams:
Hmmm. I hate when criminals are rewarded. But on this issue, the U.N should spare us this sermon. Is there any country in the world that hasn't paid ransome? Ransomes are either in cash or in kind. The mighty USA has indulged in both types, so also Britain, France, Isreal, Japan.
Strangely,no country ever admits to paying ransom.

Name one first World country that pay ransoms to terrorist on their own soil?
They desperately pay ransoms in foreign battle fields because it is not their homeland and the consequences are not theirs.

That was how you unintelligent scoundrels claim that terrorism has lasted long in Afghanistan, as a justification for Nigerian government failure to finally crush Boko Haram.

You and your fellow kind conveniently forget that those are foreign battle fields.
The US would crush such insurgency in a week if it was on their soil.