The arrest of Borno State Youth Association (BOSYA) President, Samaila Ibrahim Kaigama, has sparked fresh controversy after an alleged audio recording surfaced in which he reportedly warned that he could be detained over explosive information he had shared with the media.
According to a report by SaharaReporters, the audio captured Kaigama expressing fears that security authorities were unhappy with his public disclosures and believed he was “digging up a lot.”
The youth leader was arrested after making controversial claims in an interview where he allegedly accused former Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, and National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, of being linked to a disputed ransom-related matter involving terrorists.
In the interview, Kaigama reportedly alleged that some individuals involved in negotiations with armed groups had collected ransom, raising questions over the handling of security engagements in the troubled North-East region.
The claims have placed Ndume and Ribadu under public scrutiny, although no evidence has been publicly established to support the allegations and the individuals mentioned have not been reported as admitting any wrongdoing.
SaharaReporters reported that before his arrest, Kaigama had allegedly recorded a message warning journalists and media allies that he feared he might be taken into custody because of the information he had been releasing.
In the alleged audio, Kaigama said he was scheduled to meet Senator Ndume before proceeding to a meeting with NSA Ribadu, but feared he might not return afterwards.
“If you do not hear from me in the next 24-48 hours, you can put out whatever you want to put out because I am getting rumours and information that NSA is planning to detain me for the information I’ve been giving out,” he was quoted as saying.
“They feel I’m digging up a lot,” he reportedly added.
Kaigama also claimed that he had communicated with individuals he described as terrorists, saying they made “very bold” statements on issues he was investigating.
“I communicated with the terrorists this evening. They made some very bold, in fact, claims on certain things,” he was quoted as saying.
According to the report, the BOSYA president said those conversations were among the reasons he delayed releasing a video containing details of his findings.
Expressing concerns about his safety, Kaigama reportedly said he hoped to continue his activities but warned that if anything happened to him, the information he had gathered should be made public.
“I want to go for tomorrow’s activities, God willing, if I’m alive,” he was quoted as saying.
The development has intensified debate over security operations in Borno, alleged negotiations with insurgents and the role of public officials in handling sensitive security matters.
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