The Federal Government Nigeria has categorically rejected media reports alleging that it paid a “huge” ransom and released militant commanders to secure the freedom of schoolchildren abducted from St. Mary’s boarding school in Niger State.
In a strongly worded press statement issued Tuesday and signed by Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the government described the allegations — attributed to unnamed sources in international wire services — as “completely false and baseless.”
“No ransom was paid, and no militant commanders were freed,” the statement declared. It described the claims as a “disservice to the professionalism and integrity of Nigeria’s security forces and the sacrifices they make daily.”
The rebuttal highlighted that the reports relied solely on anonymous “intelligence sources” and individuals “familiar with the talks,” in sharp contrast to explicit, on-the-record denials from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the leadership of the National Assembly.
The ministry pointed out internal contradictions within the original report itself, noting conflicting accounts of the alleged ransom amount and delivery method.
It dismissed as “fiction” claims that ransom was delivered by helicopter to insurgents, with cross-border confirmation of receipt. The DSS has formally labelled the helicopter claim “fake and laughable,” according to the statement.
The successful rescue of the pupils, carried out without any casualties, was achieved through “professional intelligence and operational precision,” the government said.
The statement framed the abduction as part of a “structured, profit-driven criminal enterprise” and reaffirmed the Federal Government’s is unwavering commitment to the security of Nigerians.
The Federal Government urged media organisations to “verify facts before publishing speculative reports that risk emboldening criminals or undermining troop morale.”
The government said it respects press freedom but will not tolerate narratives designed to undermine the credibility of a sovereign state acting within its laws.
