The Federal Government on Tuesday denied reports that it paid a ransom or released militant commanders to secure the release of schoolchildren abducted from St. Mary’s Boarding School in Niger State.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a statement issued by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the government described the allegations—circulating in parts of the media and attributed to international wire services—as “completely false and baseless.”
He said the claims undermined the professionalism and sacrifices of Nigeria’s security forces, who continue to confront insecurity across the country.
“For the avoidance of doubt, no ransom was paid, and no militant commanders were freed,” Idris said.
While reaffirming the government’s respect for press freedom, the minister criticised what he called a narrative built on anonymous and unverifiable sources.
According to him, the reports relied on unnamed “intelligence sources” and individuals described as “familiar with the talks,” rather than official statements from authorised institutions.
Idris added that the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the leadership of the National Assembly had all publicly rejected the ransom claims.
The government also highlighted what it described as inconsistencies in the report, noting conflicting accounts regarding the alleged payment. It further dismissed claims that ransom money was delivered to insurgents by helicopter and confirmed across borders.
The DSS, he said, had formally labelled the helicopter allegation as “fake and laughable.”
The Federal Government maintained that Nigeria is dealing with a structured, profit-driven criminal network and emphasised that the safe recovery of the pupils without casualties was achieved through intelligence-led operations and precise security action.
It also urged media organisations to verify sensitive information before publication, warning that speculative reporting could embolden criminal groups and weaken the morale of security personnel.
