By Peace Erewunmi

The Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, has alleged that bandits who abducted him during a past incident identified Senator Ali Ndume as their preferred intermediary for ransom negotiations.

According to Kaigama, the kidnappers informed him that any ransom payment would have to pass through the Borno South lawmaker, whom they described as their “in-house mediator.” The cleric made the claim while reflecting on his experience in captivity and the challenges surrounding insecurity and kidnapping in Nigeria.

Kaigama said the revelation surprised him and highlighted the complex nature of negotiations between kidnappers and victims’ families. He stressed the need for stronger security measures to curb the growing menace of abductions and protect citizens across the country.

The allegation has generated public attention because of Senator Ndume’s previous involvement in efforts to facilitate the release of kidnapped victims in the North-East. The senator has consistently maintained that he supports government efforts to rescue victims while opposing the payment of ransom to terrorists and criminal groups.

As of the time of this report, Senator Ali Ndume had not publicly responded to Kaigama’s latest allegation. The claims remain those of the cleric and have not been independently verified by security agencies or other official authorities.