FG Denies ₦10 Billion Ransom Payment, Affirms Pupils Freed Through Security Operations

FG Denies ₦10 Billion Ransom Payment, Affirms Pupils Freed Through Security Operations

The Federal Government of Nigeria (FG) has firmly denied reports claiming it paid over ₦10 billion in ransom or released militant commanders to secure the freedom of pupils and staff abducted from St. Mary’s Boarding School, Papiri, Niger State. The government described such claims circulating in some international media outlets as false, baseless, and damaging to national security efforts.

The abduction, which occurred in December 2025, involved nearly 300 students and 12 staff members who were later released safely on December 22. In a statement on Tuesday, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, dismissed allegations that ransom was paid or that two senior Boko Haram commanders were freed to secure the release. He stressed that no ransom was paid and no detainees were released, attributing such reports to unnamed intelligence sources.

Idris warned that the claims undermine the professionalism and sacrifices of Nigeria’s security forces, including the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the leadership of the National Assembly, all of which had publicly refuted the ransom narrative. He also dismissed stories alleging that ransom funds were delivered by helicopter to insurgents, describing them as fictitious and inconsistent with verified facts.

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The minister emphasised that the rescue operation was conducted through coordinated intelligence and operational efforts, without bending to criminal extortion. He urged the media to verify facts before publication to avoid emboldening criminals or undermining the morale of security personnel.

Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on the Federal Government to issue a categorical statement clarifying the allegations. In a statement signed by National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi, the party warned that any confirmed ransom payment would contradict the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, which criminalises payments and negotiations with terrorists. The ADC said inconsistency on the matter could erode public confidence and worsen insecurity in Nigeria.

The ADC also highlighted that shortly after the victims’ release, government officials, including the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, had categorically stated that ransom payments fuel insecurity and should not occur under any circumstances. The party reiterated that Nigeria cannot claim to discourage ransom payments while rewarding terror networks or incentivising further abductions.

The Federal Government reiterated that the safe release of the pupils and staff was achieved entirely through professional security operations, reflecting the commitment of Nigerian authorities to tackling structured, profit-driven criminal enterprises without compromising national security or the rule of law.

Security agencies have continued to intensify operations against kidnappers and armed criminal networks across Nigeria, recovering ransom money from suspects and preventing further abductions in states including Akure, Ondo State, reinforcing the government’s position that law enforcement and intelligence-led operations remain central to addressing Nigeria’s kidnapping crisis.

FG Denies ₦10 Billion Ransom Payment, Affirms Pupils Freed Through Security Operations