₦airaland Forum

UPDATED: Nigerian Govt Lied, 5 Million Euros, Boko Haram Fighters, Swapped For Dapchi Girls


Contrary to the claims of two ministers of President Muhammadu Buhari, SaharaReporters can report that a handsome ransom of five million euros was paid to Boko Haram to secure the release of Dapchi girls freed by the insurgents early Wednesday morning.


This is in addition to Boko Haram fighters in the custody of the Nigerian military exchanged for the release of the girls.


Nigeria's Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed as well as Minister of Defense, Mansur Dan-Ali had denied that ransom was paid to Boko Haram to secure the freedom of the girls kidnapped by Boko Haram in their school in Dapchi, Yobe State on 19 February.

The two ministers said instead of paying a ransom, the federal government relied on 'backchannel negotiations" to ensure that the girls were released by Boko Haram.

But a source who also participated in the negotiations with Boko Haram that led to release of over 80 Chibok girls in 2017 told SaharaReporters that the federal government not only made the ransom payment of five million euros to the insurgents, it also exchanged some Boko Haram prisoners in return for the Dapchi girls.

However, the lie that no ransom was paid to secure the return of the Dapchi girls followed a consistent pattern of such under the table millions of dollars payments by the Nigerian government to Boko Haram to secure freedom of abductees, especially since the advent of the Buhari administration.

It was believed that huge ‘ransom’ was paid to Boko Haram for freedom of three university lecturers and the 10 women recently released by the insurgents while between two to three million euros were also paid by the Federal Government to Boko Haram in exchange for the release of 82 Chibok girls in 2017.

The BBC had reported that millions of euro in cash were handed over to the insurgents in exchange for the release of the girls in addition to the release of five senior Boko Haram militants were bomb-makers.

"The ransom was €2m. Boko Haram asked for euros. They chose the suspects and gave us the list of girls who would be freed,” BBC quoted a source as confirming the deal with Boko Haram.

Sources said Lawal Daura, the Director General of the Department of State Services, DSS, who has been in charge of the ‘opaque negotiations’ with terrorists has, along with some government officials, build a big business out of kidnap for ransom negotiations.


Analysts have also argued that the eagerness of the Buhari administration to pay ransom for abductees is fueling the thirst of various factions of Boko Haram for mass kidnappings.

Nigerian lawmakers had alluded to this during a debate on the abduction of Dapchi girls at the plenary of the Senate last month.

The lawmakers had argued that Boko Haram now kidnap women and girls so as to negotiate and "get money” from the federal government "just like the case of Chibok girls.”

“What happened is a lesson for us. That Boko Haram sees girls or women as value targets. What they did in Chibok earned them some funds, because negotiations were held somehow and they got a lot of money," Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan said during the debate.


“They devise a means of going to abduct people so that they would negotiate with the federal government for ransom. It happened with the recent abduction of Maiduguri staff that were on an exploration. The government negotiated with them and they got money. Now they have been empowered, even with police officers wives, the federal government went and negotiated with them and they were given money,” Senator Joshua Lidani representing Gombe South said.

Onijagidijagan:
Firstly, what concerns d VP with d menace of herdsmen? is he d president or Presidential spokesperson?

Secondly, Osinbanjo wasn't voted for, he was an appointee to serve president Buhari and he has to be loyal throughout

Thirdly and lastly, don't let God judge you and punish you o. how has Osinbanjo brought d name of Christianity to disrepute? Man I know you r pained but get over it.

Koolking:
I couldn't believe I actually browsed those links. However I couldn't corroborate your statement and the links.

I knew pasting links from skewed and sensational media reports would be your best shot. Thought you would be smarter to send me the unedited transcript of the radio interview. Your information reservoir is still 'hearsay' bro. You need to upgrade and shun believing everything you read on social media and news blog. Attention seekers write about anything and everything.

If you want facts, do your own investigation.

Peace!

Koolking:
I have been following Nigerian politics, never heard the bold statement made by any right thinking man, except here, from your opinion. If it's not your opinion, please be kind to mention the man, let me dig information about him and why he said that

hisgrace090:
Why not be faire to kumuyi?

He didn't say God told him or revill to him that buhari will do well, rather he say judging from his past record and that of osinbajo that he believe they will do well.

So it is purely kumuyis opinion and he is still a man.

Cooly100:
STALE!!!

After Lagos, my region has the biggest breweries in the country...Not only that, we consume more than half of the products. Taxes and VAT contributions run into billions.

Nigerians in Diaspora sent more than $21 billion yearly since 2015...My region has more than 65% of that contribution.

As for feeding. How come you have more poverty and malnorishment than my region. Why haven't you fed your self?

Finally, how come my region wants restructuring even when we contribute nothing...but your region who feeds every region doesn't want it.

Mister you are a plain parasite...

lazeal:
The North is a sea of solid minerals yet untapped. I pity Niger Delta and their stupid militants.