No ransom was paid to secure release of 360 abductees, says Borno Govt

Borno State Government has rejected claims that ransom was paid to secure the release of 360 abductees rescued from the Mandara Mountains, a notorious terrorist hideout in southern Borno State.

Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief which was monitored by NATIONAL ACCORD on Monday, Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar, insisted that the operation was a successful military mission backed by intelligence support.

NATIONAL ACCORD had earlier reported that the rescue was announced on Sunday by Operation Hadin Kai, which said Special Forces and troops of Sector 1 carried out the operation after weeks of intelligence gathering, reconnaissance, and detailed planning.

According to the military, the victims, including men, women and children, had been held in difficult conditions after being abducted from communities around the Ngoshe axis.

Dismissing reports of ransom payment, Tar said, “Who paid the ransom? And the ransom was paid to who? Where is the evidence?”

He added, “We are the operatives on the ground. There was no ransom payment. There was a daring military operation with intelligence support from the DSS that led to the rescue of the 360 citizens. That is the fact on the ground. If there are any counter facts, then you can pursue that.”

Tar further stated that Boko Haram has evolved from an ideological movement into a criminal enterprise driven by kidnapping and exploitation, stressing that the government remains committed to defeating those terrorising residents.