The representative of Borno South Senatorial District, Ali Ndume, has told Saturday PUNCH that dreaded sect, Boko Haram, is demanding for ransom to free the only remaining Dapchi, Yobe State schoolgirl with them, Leah Sharibu.
Ndume said in the interview that it had become certain that the Boko Haram sect that abducted Sharibu and over 100 other girls from their school was waging a psychological war to get more money from the government.
He told Saturday PUNCH: “The stronger ones who still have the audacity to carry out major attacks are those from Mohammed Nuru’s Boko Haram faction that is operating from the fringes, which is the group that we are suspecting got money from the negotiation for the release of the Dapchi girls.
“Now they are psychologically pressing for more money through propaganda by using Leah Sharibu.
“Yes, this is true because they must get money to carry out their operations, and the only source of money is the ransom paid to them.
“But then, the government is in a tight situation.”
Ndume, who admitted that the insurgency had increased after the Dapchi girls were released, noted that the military had also intensified efforts to crush the insurgents.
He said: “I don’t know exactly what is happening.
“The truth of the matter is that there is a resurface or escalation of intermittent attacks by the insurgents, over which I have raised the alarm and to which I have called the attention of the authorities.
“But I am happy with the response of the Nigerian Army, particularly after the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, ordered and relocated the operational headquarters of the Army to Gozombali in Guzama Local Government Area.
“That is very commendable.
“I am hoping that at the same time they will also increase and intensify the fight against insurgency in other black spots in the Sambisa Forest and the Mandara Mountains in Gworza Local Government Area.”