Nigeria Denies Ransom Payment for Abducted Schoolchildren

Nigeria's federal government has vehemently denied reports by Agence France-Presse (AFP) alleging that it paid a substantial ransom, including the release of militant commanders, to secure the freedom of schoolchildren abducted from St. Mary's Boarding School in Niger State. Idris Alkali, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, stated that these claims are 'completely false and baseless' and a 'disservice to the professionalism and integrity of Nigeria's security forces.' He emphasized that no ransom was paid and no militant commanders were released, attributing the successful rescue to 'coordinated intelligence gathering and operational precision.' The Nigeria===Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Nigeria===State Security Service (Nigeria) (DSS), and the leadership of the National Assembly have also publicly refuted the claims. The government criticized Agence France-Presse (AFP) for relying on anonymous sources and highlighted contradictions in the report, particularly regarding the alleged mode and amount of ransom. The Nigeria===State Security Service (Nigeria) (DSS) specifically dismissed the claim of ransom delivery by helicopter as 'fake and laughable.' Nigeria maintains its commitment to national security and urges media organizations to verify information to avoid emboldening criminals or undermining troop morale.