The Federal Government has strongly denied reports alleging that it paid a substantial ransom or released detained militant commanders to secure the freedom of students abducted from St. Mary’s Boarding School in Niger State.
In a statement issued Tuesday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the allegations as entirely false and without foundation. He said the claims unfairly questioned the integrity and professionalism of Nigeria’s security agencies.
According to the minister, no ransom was paid and no detainees were freed as part of efforts to secure the students’ release.
The government’s response follows an international media report that quoted unnamed intelligence sources alleging that large sums of money were paid, with figures ranging from ₦2 billion in total to about ₦40 million per abductee. The report also suggested that the money was delivered in cash and that certain militant figures were released as part of the arrangement.
Idris rejected the report, noting that it relied heavily on anonymous sources and conflicting accounts. He emphasized that relevant authorities — including the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Department of State Services (DSS), and leaders of the National Assembly — have publicly refuted any claim of ransom payment.
He also dismissed as fictitious the suggestion that ransom funds were transported by helicopter to insurgents, stating that security agencies had categorically described such claims as false.
The minister maintained that the safe recovery of the pupils was achieved through coordinated intelligence efforts and professional security operations, not through negotiations involving ransom payments.
He urged media organizations to exercise caution and verify information thoroughly before publishing reports that could potentially encourage criminal activity or damage public confidence in national security institutions.