The federal government has denied paying ransom to regain the freedom of the school children abducted by bandits from St. Mary’s boarding school in Niger State.
The denial was made in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris.
The federal government said its reaction was against the background of a report circulating in the media that the government paid ransom and released militant commanders to secure the release of the school children.
The federal government stressed that there was no iota of truth in the claim.
The statement by the minister reads in full:
“RE: ALLEGATIONS OF RANSOM PAYMENT IN THE RESCUE OF NIGER SCHOOL CHILDREN: A REBUTTAL
“The attention of the Federal Government of Nigeria has been drawn to a publication circulating in the media, attributed to international wire services, alleging that the Nigerian Government paid a “huge” ransom, including the release of militant commanders, to secure the freedom of the schoolchildren abducted from St. Mary’s boarding school in Niger State.
“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.
“The allegations rely entirely on anonymous “intelligence sources” and individuals “familiar with the talks,” in contrast to the clear and on-the-record denials issued by constituted authorities. The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the leadership of the National Assembly have all publicly refuted claims of ransom payment.
“The report itself reveals contradictions that expose its speculative character, presenting sharply conflicting accounts regarding the alleged ransom. Such inconsistency underscores a lack of direct knowledge and undermines the credibility of the claims. 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.
“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 Federal 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.”
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