The Nigerian government has denied claims that it paid ransom to secure the release of about 230 children and staff abducted from a Catholic school in Niger State in November 2025.
The students were reportedly seized by militants linked to Boko Haram in north-central Nigeria. Their release was announced earlier, prompting reports by AFP alleging that authorities paid a “huge” ransom running into millions of dollars.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Nigeria’s Information Minister, Mohammed Idris, dismissed the claims as “completely false and baseless”. He maintained that the rescue of the children and staff was achieved through “professional intelligence and operational precision” by the country’s security forces.
“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,” Idris said.
The abduction, which occurred in November 2025 in Niger State, had heightened concerns over insecurity in parts of the country, where armed groups continue to target schools and rural communities. Authorities insist no ransom was paid and have credited coordinated military and intelligence efforts for the safe recovery of the victims.