The Federal Government of Nigeria has rejected reports claiming it paid a “huge” ransom, including the release of militant commanders, to secure the release of schoolchildren abducted from St. Mary’s Boarding School in Niger State.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the allegations as “completely false and baseless” and a disservice to the professionalism and integrity of Nigeria’s security forces.
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“While we respect the freedom of the press, we firmly reject a narrative built on shadowy, unnamed sources seeking to undermine the credibility of a sovereign government acting within its laws.
“For the avoidance of doubt, no ransom was paid, and no militant commanders were freed,” the statement said.
The rebuttal followed a report by AFP, which cited at least three intelligence sources alleging that the government paid a “huge” ransom, with figures varying between N2 billion overall and up to N40 million per head (roughly $7 million total).
The report claimed the ransom was delivered in cash via helicopter to a Boko Haram commander in Gwoza, Borno State.
It also cited sources claiming the deal included the release of two militant commanders, a step that would contravene Nigerian laws prohibiting payments to kidnappers or the exchange of detainees in such contexts.