The Federal Government of Nigeria has refuted claims that it paid a N2 billion ransom to secure the release of students kidnapped from St. Mary’s School in Papiri, Niger State, describing the allegation as “false and baseless.”
In a statement issued Tuesday in Abuja, Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris reiterated the government’s long-standing policy against paying ransom. He stated that the students were freed through coordinated security operations, intelligence efforts, and inter-agency collaboration—not through any financial settlement.
The response followed a report by Agence France-Presse (AFP), which, citing intelligence sources, alleged that millions of dollars were paid to militants and that two commanders were released in exchange for up to 230 abducted pupils and staff taken in November.
Idris faulted the AFP report for relying on anonymous sources and pointed to what he described as inconsistencies that weakened its credibility. He dismissed as “fiction” claims that ransom money was airlifted by helicopter to insurgents in northeastern Nigeria, noting that the Department of State Services (DSS) had branded the allegation “fake and laughable.”
“The federal government states that these allegations are completely false and baseless. No ransom was paid, and no militant commanders were freed,” the statement said.
The administration of President Bola Tinubu maintained that Nigeria is battling what it called a “structured, profit-driven criminal enterprise,” crediting the safe recovery of the students to professional security operations.
Despite the denial, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) demanded full transparency, warning that any ransom payment—whether direct or indirect—would be troubling and could encourage further criminal activity. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) also called for a comprehensive security briefing, arguing that inconsistent public messaging had fueled suspicion.
The issue has attracted international attention, with members of the United States Congress reportedly submitting a security brief to President Donald Trump, expressing concern over recurring attacks on Christian communities in parts of Nigeria and urging stronger action against armed groups.
AFP had alleged that militants linked to Boko Haram carried out the abduction, with ransom figures reportedly ranging from N2 billion to as much as N40 million per student.
Nigeria has faced widespread kidnappings for more than a decade, as criminal gangs and extremist groups target schools, highways, and rural areas. Although a 2022 law criminalizes ransom payments with penalties of up to 15 years in prison, families and intermediaries have often negotiated releases.
Security analyst Vincent Foucher of France’s National Centre for Scientific Research told AFP that Boko Haram-linked factions increasingly depend on kidnapping as a source of funding, particularly amid internal restructuring.
Kidnapping for ransom has become a significant security concern nationwide. Data from Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED) indicates that hundreds of abductions were recorded in the past year alone, many involving multiple victims.
While the federal government insists no ransom was paid in the St. Mary’s case, the controversy underscores broader concerns about transparency, counterterrorism measures, and the enforcement of Nigeria’s anti-kidnapping laws.
