FG Denies Paying Ransom for Release of Niger Schoolchildren, Dismisses Report as False
The Federal Government of Nigeria has strongly denied allegations that it paid a ransom or released militant commanders to secure the freedom of abducted schoolchildren from Niger State.
In a statement issued by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the government described the claims—circulating in sections of the international media—as “completely false and baseless.”
The statement said the reports, which relied on unnamed intelligence sources, misrepresented the efforts of Nigeria’s security agencies and undermined their professionalism. It stressed that no ransom was paid and no বন্দits or militant leaders were freed in the process of rescuing the pupils from St. Mary’s boarding school.
According to the government, key institutions including the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Department of State Services (DSS), and leaders of the National Assembly have all publicly rejected the allegations.
The statement further pointed out inconsistencies in the reports, noting that conflicting claims about how the alleged ransom was delivered weakened their credibility. It specifically dismissed as “fiction” suggestions that ransom payments were transported by helicopter to insurgents.
The government maintained that the successful rescue of the schoolchildren was achieved through coordinated intelligence and precise security operations, without any casualties.
Reaffirming its commitment to national security, the Federal Government urged media organisations to verify information before publication, warning that unverified reports could embolden criminal elements and negatively impact the morale of security personnel.
