The Federal Government of Nigeria has rejected claims that it paid a ransom or released militant commanders to secure the freedom of schoolchildren abducted from St. Mary’s Boarding School in Niger State.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the reports are false and misrepresent the work of Nigeria’s security agencies. He explained that the government acted within the law and no ransom was paid, nor were any militants released.
The denial came after an AFP report citing unnamed intelligence sources suggested that the government paid as much as N2 billion, or about N40 million per child, to secure the pupils’ release.
The report also claimed that militants received payment in cash delivered by helicopter in Gwoza, Borno State, and that two militant commanders were freed as part of the deal.
Idris called the report “speculative” and pointed out contradictions within it. He said the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services, and the National Assembly have all denied any ransom payment.
He described claims about cash deliveries to insurgents as untrue and dismissed them as false.
He noted that the pupils were rescued safely without casualties, crediting the operation to careful planning and professional intelligence work.
Idris urged the media to confirm facts before publishing reports that could mislead the public, encourage criminal activity, or affect the morale of security personnel.
The government maintained that all steps taken in the rescue were legal, and that Nigeria’s security forces acted effectively to bring the pupils home safely.
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