The President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government has debunked claims that the administration is planning to start paying repented Boko Haram members N150,000 monthly.

Yesterday, Thursday 12th November 2020 unverified media sources claimed arrangements had been made by the federal government to pay the repentant terrorists N150,000 monthly.

One unofficial source stated;

“You don’t need university degree anymore.

“Just join Boko Haram terrorists group, spent two weeks at Sambisa, come out from Sambisa Forest, surrender your AK 47 and repent.

“Buhari-led govt will be paying you 150,000 monthly. Is there any more lucrative business in Nigeria than this?’

Mr. Bashir Ahmad, the Personal Assistant on New Media to President Buhari, has debunked the claims as he tagged it fake news.

He also urged the public to ask the sharers of the information to name their source.

Bashir Ahmad wrote;

“FAKE NEWS ALERT: The Federal Government is NOT planning to start paying repented Boko Haram members N150,000 monthly, the story is baseless and should be regarded as the usual fake news. When you see it here or on WhatsApp, ask the poster to provide a credible source of the story”

FAKE NEWS ALERT: The Federal Government is NOT planning to start paying repented Boko Haram members N150,000 monthly, the story is baseless and should be regarded as the usual fake news. When you see it here or on WhatsApp, ask the poster to provide a credible source of the story

— Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) November 12, 2020

It can be recalled that Borno State senator, Ali Ndume, yesterday claimed that a ‘repentant’ Boko Haram member was responsible for the murder of an Army Colonel, D.C Bako.

Mr Bako was killed on September 21 in an ambush by the terrorist group, near Damboa, a town about 85 kilometres from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

Mr Ndume, who is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, made the revelation to journalists on Wednesday shortly after the budget defence session of the Nigerian Army.

The lawmaker was responding to questions bothering on the funding of the army, as well as the committee’s position on the reintegration of repentant Boko Haram members back into the communities – an idea which he said is wrong.

“I am in disagreement with the government on the issue of de-radicalising and reintegrating (Boko Haram repentants). I still maintain that. You can’t be resettling people, pampering them while the war is on. The committee is on the same page and I believe many Nigerians are on the same page with this.

“In my village, mallams, not ordinary Muslims but mallams, elders above 60, 75 of them were taken to an abattoir and slaughtered by Boko Haram. Can you imagine that the Nigerian army or the Nigerian government is saying that because these people have gone to repent, or they say they have their hands up, you bring them back and pamper them.

“In addition to that, the recent attack in Damboa was carried out by a repentant (Boko Haram) giving information as to the movement of the army, the general that was killed was a victim,”

If you give IDPs here, N150,000 as perk as they give them (Boko Haram repentants) I have 10,000 of them here…. they are displaced, suffering. They know these people that killed their people, it is wrong,” he said.

By Bolaji Ogundele, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has said the African continent would miss the leadership qualities of the former Ghanaian President, Jerry Rawlings, who died on Thursday.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, Buhari hailed the passion, discipline and moral strength the late leader employed to reposition his country, saying his leadership style would be remembered for a long time.

He extended condolences to the family of the deceased, the government of Ghana and the entire Ghanaian population, praying for the repose of his soul.

The statement reads: “President Muhammadu Buhari sends heartfelt condolences to government and people of Ghana over passing of the country’s former President, Jerry Rawlings, 73, affirming that the entire African continent will sorely miss the sterling qualities of the great leader.

“President Buhari believes the passion, discipline and moral strength that the former Ghanaian leader employed to reposition his country over many years continue to reverberate across the continent and beyond.

“The President notes, with commendation, the unique role the former President played in strengthening political institutions in his country and Africa, stimulating the economy for sustainable growth, and vociferously championing the African cause by urging many leaders to work towards interdependency on the global stage, especially in areas of competitive advantage.

“President Buhari joins family, friends and associates of the former Ghanaian leader in mourning his departure, assuring that the ideas that Rawlings postulated, particularly for development in Africa, and his sacrifices in working in various countries as an envoy for peace and democracy will always be remembered.”