Nigeria denies paying ransom or releasing militants for St. Mary’s School hostages, calling AFP claims false and baseless

The Federal Government has dismissed reports alleging that it paid a large ransom and released militant commanders to secure the freedom of pupils abducted from St. Mary’s Boarding School in Niger State, describing the claims as “false and baseless.”

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The rebuttal follows an AFP report alleging that a multimillion-dollar ransom was paid to secure the release of 230 pupils and staff abducted on 21 November from St. Mary’s Secondary and Primary School, Papiri, Niger State.

At least 50 victims reportedly escaped, according to Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Niger State.

AFP cited four unnamed intelligence sources claiming that two Boko Haram commanders were released as part of the negotiations and that funds were transported by helicopter to Gwoza in Borno State.

In response, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, rejected the report, faulting it for relying on anonymous and questionable sources.

“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,” Idris said.

The minister highlighted that the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services, and the leadership of the National Assembly had all publicly refuted claims of ransom payments.

He also pointed to contradictions within the AFP report as evidence of its lack of credibility.

Idris emphasised that the pupils’ safe return resulted from “professional intelligence and operational precision,” not any illicit transaction.

“No ransom was paid, and no militant commanders were freed,” he affirmed.

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The government reiterated its commitment to security, urging media organisations to verify facts before publishing speculative reports that could embolden criminals or undermine troop morale.