Nigeria Refutes Claims of Paying N2 Billion Ransom for St. Mary’s School Hostages

Official Denial of Ransom Payment Allegations

The Nigerian Federal Government has firmly rejected reports suggesting it disbursed a ransom of N2 billion to secure the release of students abducted from St. Mary’s School in Papiri, Niger State. The government labeled these accusations as entirely unfounded and misleading.

Government’s Approach to Hostage Situations

In a statement released from Abuja, Information Minister Mohammed Idris reiterated the administration’s strict policy against negotiating with kidnappers through ransom payments. He emphasized that the liberation of the abducted pupils was achieved through meticulous intelligence operations, coordinated security efforts, and collaboration among various agencies, rather than any financial transactions.

Response to Media Reports and Intelligence Claims

The government’s rebuttal came in response to an Agence France-Presse (AFP) article citing unnamed intelligence sources. The report alleged that millions of dollars were paid to insurgents, including the release of two militant leaders, to free approximately 230 students and staff taken hostage in November.

Minister Idris criticized the AFP story for relying on anonymous informants and containing inconsistencies that cast doubt on its reliability. He dismissed the claim that ransom money was airlifted by helicopter to insurgents in northeastern Nigeria as pure fabrication. The Department of State Services (DSS) also branded the allegations as “false and laughable.”

Government’s Stance on Security Challenges

The official statement underscored that no ransom was paid and no militant commanders were released. President Bola Tinubu’s administration described the kidnappings as part of a sophisticated, profit-driven criminal network. The safe recovery of the students was attributed to professional and strategic security interventions.

Calls for Transparency and Accountability

Despite the government’s denial, opposition parties have demanded greater openness. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) urged full disclosure, warning that any form of ransom payment—direct or indirect—would be damaging and could encourage further criminal activity.

Similarly, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) called for a comprehensive security briefing, highlighting that inconsistent communication from authorities fuels public mistrust.

International Attention and Broader Context

The controversy has attracted global concern. Reports indicate that members of the United States Congress submitted a security briefing to former President Donald Trump, expressing alarm over ongoing attacks targeting Christian communities in Nigeria and advocating for intensified measures against armed groups.

AFP’s report implicated militants affiliated with Boko Haram in the abduction, suggesting ransom demands ranging from N2 billion to as much as 40 million naira per student.

Kidnapping Crisis in Nigeria: An Escalating Threat

Kidnappings for ransom have become a persistent security issue in Nigeria over the past decade. Criminal gangs and extremist groups frequently target educational institutions, highways, and rural areas. Although a 2022 law criminalizes ransom payments with penalties up to 15 years imprisonment, families and intermediaries reportedly continue to negotiate with kidnappers to secure hostages’ freedom.

Security expert Vincent Foucher from France’s National Centre for Scientific Research explained that Boko Haram-linked factions increasingly depend on kidnappings as a lucrative source of income, especially amid shifting operational bases.

Data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) reveals that hundreds of abduction incidents occurred in the last year alone, many involving multiple victims.

Ongoing Debate on Counterterrorism and Transparency

While the Nigerian government maintains that no ransom was paid in the St. Mary’s case, the episode highlights broader concerns regarding transparency, the effectiveness of anti-kidnapping legislation, and the overall counterterrorism strategy in Nigeria.