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. She reportedly was rescued several months later by security
operatives in Cameroon.
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.
According
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 Islamist group has wreaked havoc in Nigeria’s northeast zone and has made occasional forays into neighboring Cameroon.
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