FG denies paying ransom, releasing militants over Niger school abduction
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has dismissed reports alleging that the federal government paid ransom and released militant commanders to secure the freedom of abducted students
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has dismissed reports alleging that the federal government paid ransom and released militant commanders to secure the freedom of abducted students in Niger.
About 300 students and 12 teachers of St. Mary’s School in Papiri were abducted by gunmen but were released on December 22, 2025.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Idris described the allegations as false and baseless, saying they undermine the professionalism and integrity of Nigeria’s security agencies.
“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,” he said.
He stressed that no ransom was paid and no militant commanders were freed, rejecting what he described as a narrative built on anonymous and unverifiable sources.
According to the minister, constituted authorities, including the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services, and the leadership of the National Assembly, had publicly refuted the claims.
Idris noted that the report contained contradictions, including conflicting accounts of the alleged ransom, which he said undermined its credibility.
He also dismissed as fictitious claims that ransom was delivered by helicopter with cross-border confirmation.
The minister maintained that the rescue of the pupils without casualties resulted from professional intelligence gathering and operational precision, adding that Nigeria is confronting a structured, profit-driven criminal network.
He urged the media to verify facts before publishing reports capable of emboldening criminal elements or weakening troop morale, reaffirming the government’s commitment to national security.
