The Cameroonian govt did nit find it as easy as it was thought in their bid to free the hostages held by Book Haram as it was reported by saharaReporters an online news site that the
Cameroonian authorities paid Boko Haram
insurgents at least $400,000 in ransom in
order to secure the release of Francoise Agnes
Moukouri, wife of Vice Prime Minister Amadou
Ali.
Cameroonian President Paul Biya
Boko Haram insurgents had abducted Mrs. Ali in
July from the town of Kolofata. The insurgents
also seized the town’s district head. The deal to
secure their release was struck three days ago, as
SaharaReporters exclusively reported.
Our source, who was part of the negotiation that
led to the release of Mrs. Ali and several other
hostages, disclosed that the terms of the
settlement included the payment of an
undisclosed sum of money from the Chinese
government. Boko Haram subsequently released
10 Chinese construction workers who had been
held hostage since their abduction in May.
In addition, the Cameroonian government agreed
to release four commanders of the Islamist group
who had been in Cameroonian jails. The most
disturbing part of the deal is that Boko Haram
militants demanded and received a significant
supply of arms and ammunition, including a
guarantee by Cameroon that the weapons would
have safe passage to insurgent fighters.
Our source disclosed that President Idris Derby of
Chad was instrumental in the negotiations
because of his closeness to some Boko Haram
commanders.
SaharaReporters had exclusively reported three
days ago that the Cameroonian and Chinese
hostages had been released. Cameroonian
Minister of Information, Issa Bakary, initially
denied the report. However, the office of the
Cameroonian President, Paul Biya, today declared
that 27 hostages, including Mrs. Ali, 10 Chinese
construction workers, and the district head of
Kolofata had been released.
The Islamist group has wreaked havoc in
Nigeria’s northeast zone and has made
occasional forays into neighboring Cameroon.
No comments:
Post a Comment