BOKO HARAM-Cameroon Pay Boko Haram Ransom, Arms To Release Hostages.
The Cameroonian authorities paid Boko Haram insurgents about $400,000
(N66 million) to secure the release of Francoise Agnes Moukouri, wife of
Vice Prime Minister Amadou Ali, and other hostages.
A source of SaharaReporters revealed the details of the deal, saying
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. While Mrs. Ali had been
abducted by Boko Haram in July from the town of Kolofata.
In addition, the Cameroonian government agreed to release four
commanders of the Islamist group who had been in Cameroonian jails.
However, the most disturbing part of the deal is that Boko Haram
militants reportedly 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.
Akaoua Babiana, the wife of Cameroon’s deputy PM, was among the hostages released ccording to SaharaReporters, President Idris Derby of Chad was
instrumental in the negotiations because of his closeness to some Boko
Haram commanders.
Initially Cameroonian Minister of Information, Issa Bakary, denied the report. However, the office of the Cameroonian President, Paul Biya, declared that 27 hostages, including Mrs. Ali, 10 Chinese construction workers, and the district head of Kolofata had been released.
The freed hostages were taken to Yaounde general hospital upon their arrival in the capital on Saturday, October 11, Reuters reports.
Initially Cameroonian Minister of Information, Issa Bakary, denied the report. However, the office of the Cameroonian President, Paul Biya, declared that 27 hostages, including Mrs. Ali, 10 Chinese construction workers, and the district head of Kolofata had been released.
The freed hostages were taken to Yaounde general hospital upon their arrival in the capital on Saturday, October 11, Reuters reports.
report from naij.
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