ADC DEMANDS INVESTIGATION AS FG REFUTES NIGER STUDENTS’ RANSOM CLAIMS

By: Muftau Fatimo

The Federal Government has dismissed claims that it paid a “huge” ransom or released militant leaders to secure the release of schoolchildren abducted from St. Mary’s Boarding School in Niger State.

In a statement on Tuesday, Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris described the allegations as “completely false and baseless,” rejecting reports circulating in parts of the media and attributed to international wire services.

The denial comes in response to Monday reports by the international news agency AFP, which claimed that the Federal Government paid Boko Haram militants millions of dollars to free up to 230 children and staff kidnapped from the Catholic school in November.

The report further alleged that two militant commanders were released as part of the purported agreement.

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The report, citing three intelligence sources, alleged that the government paid a substantial ransom—totaling around N2 billion or approximately N40 million per person (about $7)—to secure the release of students abducted from St. Mary’s Boarding School in Niger State.

It further claimed that the payment was reportedly delivered in cash by helicopter to a Boko Haram commander in Gwoza, Borno State.

In response, the African Democratic Congress, through its National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi, cautioned that such actions, if verified, could undermine Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts and contradict the government’s publicly stated opposition to ransom payments.

The ADC asserted that the report implied the government had been effectively negotiating with terrorists all along, disguising ransom payments as rescue operations.

“The African Democratic Congress has reviewed reports in parts of the international media alleging that the Federal Government, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, paid over N10 billion and released two senior Boko Haram commanders to secure the release of the abducted pupils and staff of St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri.

“We note that shortly after the victims were freed, both the Federal Government and various security agencies issued statements denying that any ransom was paid.

“The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, has previously described ransom payments as one of the worst drivers of insecurity in the country.

“Importantly, the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, explicitly prohibits negotiations and ransom payments to kidnappers and terrorists.

“Yet, if the report is accurate, it would suggest that the government has been conducting business with terrorists all along, presenting ransom payments as legitimate rescue operations.”

The ADC called on the Federal Government to issue a categorical explanation on whether any ransom, directly or indirectly, was paid in relation to the Papiri abduction, and whether any detainees or captured terror actors were released, exchanged, or otherwise discharged as part of negotiations.

“While the government may be acting under pressure to win short-term political gains for bringing kidnapped victims back home, its hypocritical posture on the issue of ransom payments risks confusing citizens and promoting the vicious cycle of kidnapping in the country.

“No serious government will sacrifice national security principles on the altar of political expediency and short-term media applause.”

However, in a statement on Tuesday, the Federal Government stated that the allegations were based solely on anonymous sources and contradicted official statements from relevant authorities.

The government also stated that the allegations undermined the integrity of the country’s security forces and their efforts in combating criminal activities.

“The Federal Government states that these allegations are completely false and baseless, and constitute a disservice to the professionalism and integrity of Nigeria’s security forces and the sacrifices they make daily.

“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.

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

“Nigeria is confronting a structured, profit-driven criminal enterprise.

“The successful rescue of the pupils, without casualty, was the result of professional intelligence and operational precision,” the minister said.

He added that the Federal Government remained committed to safeguarding citizens and urged media organisations to exercise caution.

“The government remains unwavering in its commitment to security and urges the media to verify facts before publishing speculative reports that risk emboldening criminals or undermining troop morale,” the statement concluded.

The abduction of the St. Mary’s pupils occurred on November 21, 2025, in Papiri, Niger State.

While some of the children reportedly escaped, the remaining victims were released after weeks of negotiations led by the NSA.

PDP Calls for Immediate Halt to Ransom Payments

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the Federal Government to stop all ransom payments and take decisive measures to address the growing wave of kidnappings across Nigeria.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the party expressed concern over reports alleging that trillions of naira have been paid to criminal groups under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

The PDP warned that paying ransoms only emboldens kidnappers and worsens the nation’s security challenges.

“The recent reports from credible international and local media outlets, confirming the widely speculated payment of ransom by the Federal Government to secure the release of kidnapped victims in Niger, Kebbi, Kwara, and other states, are deeply troubling.

“These revelations come shortly after the visit of U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, Jonathan Burke, who met with top Nigerian security and finance officials to curb illicit financial flows linked to extremist groups,” the statement added.

“This recent revelation is not only shameful and regrettable but also a troubling confirmation of the National Bureau of Statistics’ Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey 2024, which reported that ransom payments have ballooned into a trillion-naira economy, with N2.3 trillion reportedly paid between May 2023 and April 2024, and that 2,235,954 people have been kidnapped under the Bola Tinubu-led APC Federal Government.

“When considered alongside the delayed and partial release of budgeted security funds and the administration’s ad hoc approach to security, it becomes clear why reports of superior weaponry in the hands of criminal non-state actors persist and why the fight against terrorism remains unresolved.”