Nigeria denies paying N2bn ransom for abducted St. Mary’s Papiri pupils

The Federal Government of Nigeria has denied allegations that it paid a N2 billion ransom to secure the release of students abducted from St. Mary’s School in Papiri, Niger State, describing the claims as “false and baseless.”

In a statement issued Tuesday in Abuja, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, reaffirmed the government’s longstanding policy against paying ransoms. He said the students’ release followed coordinated security operations, intelligence gathering, and inter-agency collaboration — not financial inducements.

The government was responding to a report by Agence France-Presse (AFP), which cited intelligence sources alleging that millions of dollars were paid to militants, alongside the release of two commanders, to secure the freedom of up to 230 pupils and staff abducted in November.

According to Idris, the AFP report relied on anonymous sources and contained “contradictions” that undermined its credibility. He dismissed claims that ransom funds were transported by helicopter to insurgents in northeastern Nigeria as “fiction,” adding that the Department of State Services (DSS) had described the allegation as “fake and laughable.”

“The federal government states that these allegations are completely false and baseless,” the statement read. “No ransom was paid, and no militant commanders were freed.” The administration of Bola Tinubu emphasized that Nigeria is confronting what it described as a “structured, profit-driven criminal enterprise” and credited the safe rescue of the pupils to professional security operations.

Despite the denial, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) called for full transparency, warning that any ransom payment — whether direct or through intermediaries — would be “shameful and troubling” and could embolden criminal groups. Similarly, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) demanded a detailed security briefing, arguing that inconsistent public communication was fueling suspicion.

The controversy has drawn international attention. Members of the United States Congress reportedly submitted a security brief to President Donald Trump, expressing concern about persistent attacks on Christian communities in parts of Nigeria and urging stronger action against armed groups.

AFP’s report alleged that militants linked to Boko Haram were responsible for the abduction. Sources cited by the outlet claimed ransom payments ranged from N2 billion in total to as much as N40 million per student.

Nigeria has struggled with mass kidnappings for over a decade, with criminal gangs and extremist factions targeting schools, highways, and rural communities. Although a 2022 law criminalized ransom payments — carrying penalties of up to 15 years in prison — families and, allegedly, intermediaries have continued negotiations to secure the release of hostages.

Security analyst Vincent Foucher of France’s National Centre for Scientific Research told AFP that factions associated with Boko Haram have increasingly relied on kidnapping as a source of revenue, particularly amid internal relocations and operational shifts.

Kidnapping for ransom has evolved into a major security challenge in Nigeria. According to data from Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED), hundreds of abductions were recorded in the past year alone, many involving multiple victims.

While the federal government maintains that no ransom was paid in the St. Mary’s case, the broader debate underscores ongoing concerns about transparency, counterterrorism strategy, and the effectiveness of Nigeria’s anti-kidnapping laws.