Million Dollar Ransom: Resurgent Insurgency

A recent video broadcast by media powerhouse CNN showing some of the abducted CHIBOK girls may prove that all the 219 kidnapped girls are yet alive somewhere in an unknown place. The initial abduction sparked a social media campaign and global outrage, which drew attention to the horrific situation of Northeastern Nigerians caused by the dreaded insurgency that almost annihilated the region. However, the latest video has added pressure on the federal government to step up proceedings on the matter; the President though indicated that his government also deeply shares the parent’s grief.

Newspaper reports filed that the insurgents are in for a hefty sum as ransom in exchange of the girls (Chibok) in their captivity. The federal government has repeatedly denied any link or secret dealing with the Boko Haram militants on the most awaiting freedom of the girls. And as well, assured the nation its determination to rescue those in captivity by the Boko Haram, which includes the schoolgirls, but it clearly made its resentment towards negotiating with any masked group over the freedom of the kidnapped girls. The question now is, how authentic is the source of the latest video that featured 15 of the school girls? What is their motive for demanding huge amount of money in exchange for the girls?

Reports has shown that in recent times, Boko Haram insurgency has pave way for fraudsters and scammers among government officials down to individual, whose primary aim is to find any opportunity to dupe the government.

These unscrupulous groups and individuals had used such method to extort the then government led by former President Goodluck Jonathan. There is every possibility that the same caliber of unpatriotic group with collaboration of Boko Haram sponsors are out again to try Muhammadu Buhari led administration.

This bait issued for the release of the girls seems to be a ploy to defraud the government of millions of dollars; but looking at the administration’s unbending commitment to secure the release of all Boko Haraam captives without compromising anything, is evidently seen with several successful rescue mission in Sambisa forest camp by the Nigeria army rescue operation team. These traumatized victims of Boko Haram captives are mainly women, children and young girls kidnapped and forcefully taken by the militant group..

Read more on Boko Haraam fraud:- Boko Haraam : Shekau Latest Video May Be Work of “Stage Paid Actor”

In a certain newspaper report (Thisday), one group asked for $50 million in exchange for the 15 girls shown in the released video, then another group offered another 10 girls for over 1 million euros. The large ransoms demanded by different groups who alleged to be Boko Haram, has stirred suspicions of unscrupulous activities in the name of Boko haram. The Nigerian government was also against paying any form of ransom for their release, as the monies could be used by Boko Haram, which has been declared the deadliest extremist sect in the world, to rearm and continue their reign of violence and malicious killings, in its effort to occupy the territory surrounding Northeastern region and beyond.

Strides recorded by the Military have degraded the insurgents to the extent that they can no longer seize and hold on to any territory in the country. Thousands of persons, mostly women and children, who were kidnapped by Boko Haram, had already been rescued and reunited with their families. But in spite of the pressure on the government, serious considerations should be taken on the issue of rescuing the abducted girls to avert rearming the dreaded militants, the lives and safety of innocent millions Northern Nigerians defend on any action taken.