BREAKING: Presidency Breaks Silence on ₦2bn Ransom Payment to Boko Haram for Niger Schoolchildren Release

• The Federal Government has dismissed reports alleging it paid a huge ransom and released militant commanders to secure the freedom of abducted schoolchildren, describing the claims as false and misleading.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has rejected reports claiming it paid a substantial ransom, including the release of militant commanders, to secure the release of schoolchildren 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 allegations as “completely false and baseless,” insisting they undermine the professionalism and integrity of Nigeria’s security agencies.

“While we respect the freedom of the press, we firmly reject a narrative built on shadowy, unnamed sources seeking to undermine the credibility of a sovereign government acting within its laws,” the statement read.

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

The government’s rebuttal follows a report by AFP, which cited multiple intelligence sources alleging that a large ransom was paid. The report claimed figures ranged from about N2 billion in total to as much as N40 million per captive, with funds allegedly delivered via helicopter to a Boko Haram commander in Gwoza, Borno State.

It also alleged that two militant commanders were released as part of the arrangement—claims that would contradict Nigerian laws prohibiting ransom payments or prisoner exchanges with kidnappers.

However, Idris dismissed the report as speculative, noting that it relied heavily on anonymous sources. He said key institutions, including the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Department of State Services, as well as the leadership of the National Assembly, had all publicly denied the allegations.

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He further pointed out inconsistencies in the report, arguing that conflicting figures and accounts weaken its credibility.

“The assertion that ransom was delivered by helicopter to insurgents, with cross-border confirmation of receipt, is fiction. The DSS has formally dismissed this claim as fake and laughable,” he said.

The minister maintained that the successful rescue of the pupils, achieved without casualties, was the result of coordinated intelligence efforts and precise security operations.

He also urged media organisations to prioritise fact-checking and avoid publishing unverified reports that could embolden criminal elements or damage the morale of security personnel.