FG Denies Ransom Payment for Niger Schoolchildren Release

The Federal Government of Nigeria, through Minister Alhaji Moham Idri, issued a statement on Tuesday denying allegations that a ransom was paid for the release of schoolchildren abducted from St. Mary's Boarding School in Niger State.

The minister characterized the reports as false and baseless, asserting that they undermine the credibility of Nigeria's security agencies. He emphasized that the claims were built on anonymous sources and lacked direct knowledge, which further discredits them.

The government firmly rejected the narrative that a ransom was delivered via helicopter and that insurgents received payment across the border. The Department of State Services (DSS) also formally dismissed the claims, labeling them as fake and laughable.

The minister highlighted that the successful rescue of the pupils occurred without casualties, attributing it to professional intelligence operations.