Insurgents of the factional Boko Haram sect, kidnappers of celebrated Dapchi School girl, Leah Sharibu have made a demand of N100 billion ransom as exchange for Leah to regain her freedom.
Leah was abducted alongside 109 students in Dapchi, Yobe State, on February this year, but after her co-abductees were released, unconditionally according to the federal Government, Leah was denied her freedom because she refused to denounce her Christian faith.
According to a source who spoke with the media, claiming to be involved in the negotiation for the schoolgirl’s release there were fears that if given the money, the terrorists could use the cash to acquire weapons with which they would unleash terror on innocent Nigerians in the future.
The sources was said to have argued that giving such huge sum of money to the terrorist organisation could also negatively affect national security ahead of the 2019 general elections.
The source said, “It is not that the government of Nigeria is not making efforts at getting Leah Sharibu out of the grips of the Boko Haram. But we are aware that the terrorist organisation holding her is demanding N100 billion.
Though no amount is too much to get the soul of one innocent person out of danger, I think the government of Nigeria is considering many things. We all know that elections are ahead and that the terrorist organisation may also be planning to embark on inflicting damage on the people; government has to be careful and also be diplomatic about it.
We are pleading that members of the Boko Haram sect be considerate in their demands as well. They should please release the girl to her parents,” the source said.