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President
Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (centre) with the 21 Chibok
girls
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It
said the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari had no such money to pay
as ransom.
The
presidency said negotiations for the release of more Chibok girls, possibly all
the rest, were in progress.
The
military high command also strongly denied paying any ransom.
A
statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media and
Publicity) to the President, Mallam Garba Shehu, faulted some reports that the
ransom cash was being used by Boko Haram insurgents to buy arms to launch fresh
attacks on the country.
The
statement said: “Over the past few days, some newspaper reports ascribing
the recent terrorist attacks in Borno State to the government’s negotiation of
the release of 21 Chibok girls, with a particular report alleging the exchange
of US$21 million for the girls are false and should be disregarded by members
of the public. This loose talk is journalism at its most irresponsible and it’s
most dismaying.
“As
a responsible government that is run on the basis of the constitution and
budgets duly appropriated by the National Assembly, we have no such money under
any allocation to pay out this outrageous sum of money as ransom.
“Beyond
the call of journalism, the newspaper making this charge has a national duty to
point how and where this money was paid, and to supply leads as to where the
“powerful weapons” were bought by the terrorists.”
The
statement said the girls regained freedom in line with the campaign pledge of
President Muhammadu Buhari.
The
statement added: “From the inception of President Buhari’s administration, the
media, local and international groups, have persistently pressured the
government to do everything possible to facilitate the release of the Chibok
girls.”
The
presidency however appealed to the media not to relent in their support for the
military.
It
said: “May I humbly, once again appeal to the Nigerian media to continue their
unflinching support to the military and other security agencies as they fight
to free our country from terrorism.”
In
a statement in Abuja, the Defence Headquarters also said it has become
worrisome that some sections of the media have continued to undermine national
security by insisting a ransom was paid to Boko Haram.
Acting
Director, Defence Information, Brig. General Rabe Abubakar said the story
carried by a national newspaper (not The Nation) is unsubstantiated, false and
a deliberate campaign against the military. He said the report that the ransom
paid is being used by Boko Haram to further carry out attacks is capable of
undermining national security.
The DHQ however warns: “The DHQ wishes to once more remind the media to be cautious of such reports which has serious implication on national security and to further add that, as partners in progress, the media also has a stake in the ongoing efforts to restore lasting peace in the North East and the country in general.”
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