No Ransom Was Paid for Release of Niger Schoolchildren – FG Reacts
The Federal Government has strongly denied allegations that it paid a ransom or released militant commanders to secure the freedom of schoolchildren abducted from St. Mary’s Boarding School in Niger State, describing the claims as false and baseless.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the government’s attention had been drawn to a media publication, attributed to international wire services, alleging that a “huge” ransom was paid, including the release of militant leaders, to facilitate the rescue of the pupils.
The minister dismissed the report as a disservice to the professionalism and integrity of Nigeria’s security forces, who he said continue to make sacrifices daily in the line of duty.
“For the avoidance of doubt, no ransom was paid, and no militant commanders were freed,” the statement said.
The government faulted the report for relying on anonymous “intelligence sources” and individuals “familiar with the talks,” noting that constituted authorities had issued clear, on-the-record denials.
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According to the statement, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the leadership of the National Assembly had all publicly refuted claims of ransom payment.
The Federal Government further argued that the report contained contradictions, particularly regarding the alleged mode and amount of ransom, which it said exposed the speculative nature of the claims. It specifically described as “fiction” an assertion that ransom was delivered by helicopter to insurgents, with cross-border confirmation of receipt.
The DSS, the statement added, had formally dismissed the helicopter claim as fake and laughable.
Emphasising that Nigeria is confronting a structured and profit-driven criminal enterprise, the government maintained that the successful rescue of the pupils without casualty was the result of professional intelligence gathering and operational precision by security agencies.
The Federal Government reiterated its commitment to national security and urged media organisations to verify information before publishing reports that could undermine troop morale or embolden criminal elements.
By PRNigeria
