FG Dismisses AFP Report, Insists No Ransom Paid for Release of Niger Pupils

by Momodu Favour

The Federal Government has strongly denied allegations that it paid a huge ransom or released militant commanders to secure the freedom of pupils 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 claims as “completely false and baseless,” insisting that the rescue of the schoolchildren was achieved through coordinated security operations rather than any negotiated settlement with terrorists.

The denial follows a report by Agence France-Presse (AFP) which quoted unnamed intelligence sources as alleging that the government paid between N2 billion in total with figures said to be as high as N40 million per pupil to secure the children’s release.

The report further claimed that the ransom was delivered in cash by helicopter to a Boko Haram commander in Gwoza, Borno State, and that two militant commanders were released as part of the deal.

However, Idris said the report relied solely on anonymous sources and speculative accounts, stressing that multiple government institutions had publicly refuted the allegations.

“For the avoidance of doubt, no ransom was paid, and no militant commanders were freed,” the minister stated.

He said the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the leadership of the National Assembly had all rejected the claims, maintaining that Nigeria’s security agencies acted within the bounds of the law.

Idris further described as “fiction” the assertion that cash was ferried by helicopter to insurgents, adding that the DSS had dismissed the narrative as fake and laughable.

According to him, inconsistencies in the reported figures and accounts exposed the speculative nature of the story.

The minister maintained that the safe return of the pupils, achieved without casualties, was the result of “professional intelligence and operational precision,” underscoring the Federal Government’s commitment to tackling insecurity without capitulating to criminal demands.

He urged media organisations to exercise caution and verify facts before publishing reports that could undermine national security efforts, embolden criminal elements, or dampen the morale of security personnel.

The abduction had sparked national concern and renewed debates over the government’s strategy in responding to kidnappings and insurgency, particularly in the North-West and North-Central regions.

While authorities insist on a no-ransom policy, previous incidents have often been clouded by allegations of backdoor negotiations claims the government continues to deny.

Security operations remain ongoing in parts of Niger and neighbouring states as authorities intensify efforts to dismantle kidnapping and insurgent networks operating in the region.