BY CALEB ISHAYA
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has denied the allegation that the Federal Government paid huge ransom to secure the release of the schoolchildren abducted from St. Mary’s boarding school in Niger State, last November.
Idris, who was reacting to a publication circulating in the media, attributed to international wire services, alleging that the Nigerian Government paid a “huge” ransom, also denied the release of militant commanders, to secure the release of the schoolchildren.
It would be recalled that 303 students and 12 teachers were abducted when gunmen attacked the school on November 21, 2025.
In a statement he personally signed and issued yesterday, the Minister said the 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”, it stated.
The statement added that 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, noting that
“the report itself reveals contradictions that expose its speculative character, presenting sharply conflicting accounts regarding the alleged ransom”.
According to the minister, such inconsistency underscores a lack of direct knowledge and undermines the credibility of the claims.
It noted that 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”, it stressed.
The Minister noted that Nigeria is confronting a structured, profit-driven criminal enterprise, stressing that the successful rescue of the pupils, without casualty, was the result of professional intelligence and operational precision.
Idris noted that 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.
