The Federal Government has denied reports that it paid a multimillion dollar ransom and released militant commanders to secure the freedom of pupils abducted from St. Mary’s Boarding School in Niger State.
The abduction occurred on November 21 at the Catholic school in Papiri, where nearly 300 pupils and staff were taken, with about 50 later escaping.
Responding to a report by AFP alleging that ransom was paid and two Boko Haram commanders were freed, the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, described the claims as false and baseless.
He said no ransom was paid and no militants were released, adding that the rescue operation was achieved through professional intelligence and operational precision.
The Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services, and the leadership of the National Assembly also refuted the allegations, insisting that the report relied on unnamed sources and contained contradictions.
