The Federal Government has firmly dismissed as “false, baseless and laughable” reports alleging that Nigeria paid a huge ransom and released militant commanders to secure the freedom of abducted pupils from St. Mary’s Boarding School in Niger State.
In a strongly worded statement on Tuesday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the claims—attributed to unnamed international intelligence sources—were a deliberate attempt to undermine the credibility of Nigeria’s security architecture and the sovereignty of the nation.
“For the avoidance of doubt, no ransom was paid and no militant commanders were freed,” the government declared.
The statement faulted the publication for relying entirely on shadowy and anonymous sources, contrasting it with categorical, on-the-record denials by constituted authorities, including the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services and the leadership of the National Assembly of Nigeria.
According to the Federal Government, the report’s internal contradictions—especially conflicting accounts about the alleged size and mode of ransom payment—expose its speculative and unreliable nature. It specifically dismissed as “fiction” the claim that ransom was ferried by helicopter to insurgents with cross-border confirmation of receipt.
The DSS, the statement noted, has formally described the narrative as fake and laughable.
The government maintained that the safe rescue of the pupils without casualty was the product of painstaking intelligence gathering and precise security operations, not negotiation concessions.
“Nigeria is confronting a structured, profit-driven criminal enterprise,” the statement read, emphasizing that security forces continue to make daily sacrifices to protect citizens.
While reaffirming its respect for press freedom, the Federal Government urged media organizations to verify facts before amplifying speculative claims that could embolden criminal elements or dampen troop morale.
The statement was signed by Mohammed Idris, Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, and issued on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.
About The Author
