Boko Haram: Leah Sharibu’s abductors reportedly demand N100bn ransom - Diplomatic source

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– Boko Haram terrorists have reportedly
asked for N100bn ransom to release Leah
Sharibu
– An unconfirmed source said that the
government was considering the
implications of giving such a huge sum of
money to the terrorists
– The Nigerian military, however,
reiterated that it is doing everything
ensure the release of all Boko Haram
abductees, including Leah
Members of the factional Boko Haram sect
who kidnapped Leah Sharibu alongside no
fewer than 109 students in Dapchi, Yobe
state early this year have allegedly
demanded N100bn ransom before the girl
could be released.
The Punch newspaper reports that
diplomatic source which claimed to be
involved in the negotiation for the release
of the schoolgirl said there were fears that
if given the money, the terrorists could use
the cash to acquire weapons with which
they would unleash terror on innocent
Nigerians in the future.
The newspaper said it gathered that the
government was, however, considering the
other implications of giving such a huge
sum of money to the terrorists.
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The diplomatic source reportedly argued
that giving such a huge sum of money to
the terrorist organisation could also
negatively affect national security ahead of
the 2019 general elections.
The source said: “It is not that the
government of Nigeria is not making efforts
at getting Leah Sharibu out of the grips of
the Boko Haram.
“But we are aware that the terrorist
organisation holding her is demanding
N100bn. Though no amount is too much to
get the soul of one innocent person out of
danger, I think the government of Nigeria is
considering many things.
“We all know that elections are ahead and
that the terrorist organisation may also be
planning to embark on inflicting damage on
the people; government has to be careful
and also be diplomatic about it.
“We are pleading that members of the Boko
Haram sect be considerate in their demands
as well. They should please release the girl
to her parents.”
However, the Defence Headquarters, Abuja,
has reassured Nigerians that the military is
making efforts to rescue all the captives of
the Boko Haram terrorists, including
Sharibu.
The director of defence information, Brig.
Gen John Agim, who stated this on
Saturday, October 27, said: “Be assured that
the military is doing all it should to rescue
all the captives in the Boko Haram’s hold.
The Nigerian military is the creation of the
Nigerian state and therefore, Boko Haram is
a problem of the Nigerian state and the
military is called upon to tackle the problem.
“Therefore, the military needs the
cooperation of the state and its citizens to
tackle the problem. Our citizens should not
stand aloof or believe that Boko Haram is a
problem only for the military. No, we
require everyone’s cooperation to end this
insurgency.”
Sharibu was one of the 110 pupils of the
Government Technical and Science College,
Dapchi, Yobe state, abducted by Boko
Haram insurgents on February 19, 2018.
Also, following negotiations by the federal
government with the insurgents, 104 of the
abducted Dapchi girls were released.
It was, however, reported that five of the
abducted girls had died and buried by the
terrorists while Leah became the only one
held back by the sect.
She was said to have been held back
because of her refusal to renounce her faith
as a Christian and embrace Islam.
The recent killings of two aid workers by
the insurgents had further fuelled the fear
that Leah could be killed if efforts were not
made to rescue her in time.
However, the sect had announced that
rather than execute the schoolgirl, she
would be turned to a slave in its camp.
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Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported
that President Muhammadu Buhari on
Thursday, October 18, reassured that the
brutal activities of the Boko Haram sect
would soon become history.
The president gave the assurance when he
hosted members of the Kannywood
entertainment industry to a dinner at the
Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said that the federal government would
not allow any group hiding under religion
to unleash terror on innocent citizens.