- Borno Government Denies Paying Ransom for Release of 360 Abductees
- Officials credit military operation and DSS intelligence support
- Zulum praises troops for successful rescue mission in Borno
The Borno State Government has dismissed claims that ransom was paid to secure the release of 360 abductees rescued from the Mandara Mountains, insisting that the operation was carried out through intelligence-driven military action.
The Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar, stated this on Channels Television’s *Morning Brief* programme on Monday while reacting to reports surrounding the rescue of the victims.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that Tar said the successful operation was conducted by troops of Operation Hadin Kai with intelligence support from the Department of State Services (DSS), stressing that no ransom was paid to the insurgents.
“Who paid the ransom? And the ransom was paid to who? Where is the evidence?” he asked.
“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.”
Operation Hadin Kai had earlier announced the rescue of the abductees from a Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad enclave located within the Mandara Mountains.
According to military authorities, the operation involved Special Forces and troops of Sector 1 following weeks of intelligence gathering, covert reconnaissance and strategic planning.
The rescued victims, made up of men, women and children, were reportedly abducted from communities around the Ngoshe axis and held in captivity under difficult conditions.
Speaking further, Tar said the Boko Haram insurgency had evolved from its original ideological foundation into a criminal enterprise sustained by kidnappings, extortion and the exploitation of vulnerable communities.
“The Boko Haram insurgency has since transmuted into a big business,” he said.
He added that the Borno State Government views the insurgents as criminals whose primary objective is to spread fear and terror among residents.
Tar maintained that the rescue operation demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence-driven security measures and the growing collaboration among security agencies in tackling insurgency.
Meanwhile, Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, commended the military and security personnel involved in the operation. He described the rescue as a reflection of courage, professionalism and the effectiveness of intelligence-led military action.
The governor reaffirmed the state’s commitment to supporting security agencies in their efforts to defeat insurgency, restore peace and protect communities across the North-East region.
