By Ajibola Olaide, JKNewsMedia Reporter
CLAIMS THAT Nigeria paid a huge ransom and released militant commanders to secure the freedom of schoolchildren abducted from St Mary’s boarding school in Niger State have been strongly rejected by the Federal Government (FG) describing such as completely false and baseless.
JKNewsMedia.com reports that the FG said the publication circulating in the media and attributed to international wire services constituted a disservice to the professionalism and integrity of Nigeria’s security forces and the sacrifices they make daily.
The government stated that while it respects press freedom, it firmly rejects what it described as 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, the government said no ransom was paid and no militant commanders were freed.
A statement signed by Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, noted that the allegations rely entirely on anonymous intelligence sources and individuals familiar with the talks.
He also contrasted this with what it described as clear and, on the record, denials issued by constituted authorities.
The Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services, and the leadership of the National Assembly have all publicly refuted claims of ransom payment, the statement said.
Idris added that the report reveals contradictions that expose what it called its speculative character, presenting sharply conflicting accounts regarding the alleged ransom.
Such inconsistency, the statement said, stresses a lack of direct knowledge and undermines the credibility of the claims.
The assertion that ransom was delivered by helicopter to insurgents, with cross border confirmation of receipt, is fiction, the government affirmed.
It said the Department of State Services has also formally dismissed the claim as fake and laughable.
JKNewsMedia.com reports Idris as saying that Nigeria is currently confronting what the government described as a structured profit-driven criminal enterprise, adding that as such, the successful rescue of the pupils without casualty resulted from professional intelligence and operational precision.
Also, the FG asserted that it remains unwavering in its commitment to security and urged the media to verify facts before publishing speculative reports that risk emboldening criminals or undermining troop morale, the statement said.
FMINO PRESS STATEMENT
RE: ALLEGATIONS OF RANSOM PAYMENT IN THE RESCUE OF NIGER SCHOOL CHILDREN: A REBUTTAL
The attention of the Federal Government of Nigeria has been drawn to a publication circulating in the media, attributed to international wire services, alleging that the Nigerian Government paid a “huge” ransom, including the release of militant commanders, to secure the freedom of the schoolchildren abducted from St. Mary’s boarding school in Niger State.
The Federal Government states that these 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. 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.
The report itself reveals contradictions that expose its speculative character, presenting sharply conflicting accounts regarding the alleged ransom. Such inconsistency underscores a lack of direct knowledge and undermines the credibility of the claims. 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.
Nigeria is confronting a structured, profit-driven criminal enterprise. The successful rescue of the pupils, without casualty, was the result of professional intelligence and operational precision. 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.
Mohammed Idris, fnipr
Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation.
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
