FG Denies Boko Haram’s Demand For N10bn For Release of Chibok Girls

The Federal Government of Nigeria has denied media reports that Islamic terror group, Boko Haram has demanded $50 million from the government as ransom before releasing the abducted Chibok school girls.

In an interview with the Voice of America (VOA), Information Minister for Nigeria, Lai Mohammed said that such ransom reports are not new..

“It appears we have several versions of this report”, he said. “The one that we heard was from a source that Boko Haram wants to release 10 of these girls for N10 billion.”

“But the most important thing is that we’ve gone through this route before, and until when we establish the credibility of this source and the truth behind it, the government will not be in a hurry to make a statement. However, government is using its own channels to authenticate the credibility of this source”, he said.

The minister said government is using its own channels to authenticate the credibility of the source.

Mohammed said accusations that the Buhari administration appears not to be doing enough to secure the release of the more than 200 Chibok girls is not fair. He said that the Nigerian military has been able to wrestle control of territories previously under the control of the Boko Haram militants. He also said the militants have been dislodged from their fortresses, including their main operation center in the Sambisa forest.

“No day passes without the issue of the kidnapped girls not being at the front burner. But these are highly security and intelligence isues, which can not always be discussed openly. But I can assure you that for this government, the return of these girls is what is going to bring the final closure on the Boko Haram terrorism and we are working very hard, daily on it.

It would be recalled that Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State claimed that the rumour of the abduction of the Chibok girls was mere political fabrication meant to oust President Goodluck Jonathan from the office at all costs. The governor also accused the Federal Government of deceiving Nigerians over the alleged missing school girls, supposing that the All Progressive Congress (APC) used the situation to defeat Jonathan.