Mamu Lied During His Negotiation – Yusuf Speaks On Boko Haram Commander Marrying 21-Year-Old Hostage

The Secretary of the Chief of Defence Staff seven-man negotiating committee, Professor Usman Yusuf, has claimed a report perpetrated by Abuja-Kaduna victims negotiator, and publisher of Desert Herald, Tukur Mamu which alleged that the Boko Haram leader wanted to marry the 21-year-old Azurfa Lois John, one of the just freed Abuja-Kaduna victims is false.

Naija News recalls that On August 20, 2022, Mamu informed Nigerians via a statement that a top commander of bandits who abducted passengers from the Kaduna-Abuja train is reportedly planning to marry one of the victims,  Azurfa.

He said, “This is to alert the federal government and especially the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) that I can confirm through credible information at my disposal that if urgent action is not taken to immediately secure the release of the youngest victim of the train attack, a 21-year-old Azurfa Lois John, the abductors as they have done in the case of Leah Sharibu, are planning to marry her any moment from now.”

However, Yusuf while speaking to Voice of America Hausa service, monitored in Kaduna stated that the Boko Haram leader never approached the lady in question.

According to him, even when the committee talked to her, she said it was not true, adding that the Commander had never approached her.

He revealed that the committee worked tirelessly for six months to ensure that Abuja train hostages were released without paying a ransom.

He noted that the committee did not give a dime to the terrorists to release the 23 hostages.

He said, “Since 29th March 2022, when the committee started working, we told the insurgents that it was wrong to hold pregnant women and children hostage.

Among the 23 hostages was a two-year-old girl. When she was abducted she was not up to two years. We told them it was not proper to even have grievances with the government.”