Boko Haram has slammed an attempt by the Federal Government to pay ransom amounting to millions to secure Leah Sharibu’s release.
This was disclosed by a source in the Presidency on Sunday saying the insurgents have rejected the money offered to them in exchange of the schoolgirl.
Leah Sharibu the only school girl remaining in captivity in the den of Boko Haram after the insurgent released her 109 students colleagues whom they were abducted together by the terrorist group from the Government Girls Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe state, in 2018.
The source disclosed that as the money was about to be released which the insurgents earlier requested in hard currency and was immediately made available by the government, only for the insurgents to change their mind and said they were no longer interested in the ransom but wanted to keep the schoolgirl.
It was disclosed the Federal Government had entered into negotiation with the insurgents to secure the release of Leah Sharibu since she is the only remaining girl among her schoolmates whom they were abducted together.
The federal government was negotiating through some top security agents; a third party and the terrorist at a time which took them almost a month before agreement were reached, however, the insurgents backed out at the 11th hour saying they are interested in keeping the girl.
The source revealed the Federal Government is committed to securing the released of Leah Sharibu and other yet to be identified girls that were abducted by the insurgents, “because the president has set a firm target and resolve to ensure the freedom of Leah and others by any means necessary.”
Daily Trust report that a security expert while having a chat with them yesterday revealed the Federal Government must continue to push for the renegotiation with the terrorist because Leah Sharibu is a special case and the abductors know that the world attention is on her.
To the insurgents, the girl is a good bet for negotiation considering the circumstance surrounding their refusal to release her.
In his statement, “The world will accuse the Federal Government of not doing the right thing if the girl remains in captivity.
“The terrorists know her worth and will use it to their maximum advantage.
They know the government is involved in the negotiation; she is therefore not an ordinary captive.
“However, one thing is certain: they will not kill her, but they will also not release her easily.
Meanwhile, Leah’s Father Sharibu Nathan yesterday said he was not aware the insurgents rejected the ransom.