Nigerian soldiers rue giving Boko Haram ransom for Chibok girls, fear for safety
While many have hailed the government’s negotiation with terrorist sect, Boko Haram for the release of Chibok girls as commendable, the gesture is deemed a wrong one in some military quarters.
According to some military men, giving ransom for victims has inspired an upsurge in killings and kidnaps by the sect. It is believed the money received by the sect is used in strengthening their armoury.
A PUNCH report quotes some top military officials as being dissatisfied with the government’s tactics, attributing the increase in attacks and kidnaps of soldiers to the recent ransom received by the sect for Chibok girls.
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“It is unfortunate that in government’s desperation to secure the release of the Chibok girls, it has put our (soldiers’) lives in danger by yielding to the demands of the group to collect a ransom and secure the release of its commanders,” one military source, who spoke on condition of anonymity to the publication, said.
“It is now obvious that the group has reinforced and bought more weapons to fight us.”
The Nigerian army recently lost one of its most gallant soldiers, Late Lt. Muhammed Abu-Ali after he fell victim to an ambush by the terrorist sect a week ago, and many of the soldiers are voicing their displeasure, with concerns for their own safety.
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“They got the Chibok girls and suddenly the Boko Haram that we had beaten and chased out of Sambisa are attacking and killing men of quality,” another military source, who is reportedly active in the war theatre, also said.
“It is very obvious that they have used the money they got from the deal to buy equipment and recruit men to carry out their heinous acts.”
The presidency however, has denied exchanging a ransom for the recent release of 21 Chibok girls, as it spoke through Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, on Friday.
“Information Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, told the country that there was no cash involvement in the release of the 21 Chibok girls. If you have evidence that it was not so, simply produce it,” he said.
Despite Adesina’s assertion, one of the lawmakers involved in the negotiation which led to the girls’ release, confirmed to PUNCH that a ransom was paid, but far less than Boko Haram’s demand of $50m (N15.7bn) as earlier reported by The Sunday Telegraph of London.
Boko Haram’s six-year insurgency has led to the deaths of over 17,000 people, destruction of more than 1,000 schools and displacement of about two million people.
