A former Minister has alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari's refusal to pay for Leah Sharibu's release was the reason why Boko Haram refused to release her.
Chief Femi Fani-Kayode
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party and former minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode on Friday reacted to a report by the United Nations, UN, which claimed that the Nigerian Government paid Boko Haram insurgents ransom for the release of schoolgirls abducted from Dapchi, Yobe State.
The politician supported the UN report, saying that President Muhammadu Buhari paid the terrorists for the release of the girls. He however, added that Buhari refused to pay for the release of Leah Sharibu, the only Christian girl still in Boko Haram captivity which was why she was not released.
The 22nd report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team of the UN’s Security Council stated that large ransom was paid to Boko Haram to secure the release of the over 100 schoolgirls kidnapped from a secondary school in Dapchi, Yobe State in February.
However, Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has dismissed the report, saying no ransom was paid to Boko Haram terrorists.
Reacting to the report, Fani-Kayode, in a tweet wrote: “The UN has confirmed the fact that Buhari paid a huge ransom to Boko Haram for the return of the Dapchi girls. And what a scam it was!
“The only girl that the ransom did not cover was courageous Leah Sharibu, the only Christian amongst them. Buhari refused to pay for her!”