Alleged Secret Ransom Deal: Report Claims Tinubu Administration Paid Billions to Free Nigerian School Pupils!
Reported by Mustapha Labake Omowumi (Journalist)| Sele Media Africa
Fresh scrutiny has emerged over Nigeria’s counter-kidnapping policy following reports that the federal government allegedly paid billions of naira to Boko Haram-linked militants to secure the release of abducted pupils in Niger State — a claim officials have repeatedly denied.
According to intelligence sources cited by Agence France-Presse, Nigerian authorities allegedly delivered a large ransom payment to insurgents after the mass abduction at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri.
What the Report Alleges
The investigation claims:
The government paid roughly ₦2 billion (about $7 million) to militants.
The funds were reportedly transported by helicopter to a Boko Haram stronghold in northeastern Borno State.
Intelligence sources also alleged that two Boko Haram commanders were released as part of the arrangement.
Following the reported payment, the abducted pupils and staff were gradually freed, according to the sources.
Government Position
Nigerian officials have consistently denied paying ransom in connection with the Papiri school abduction.
The federal government has long maintained a public policy against negotiating with kidnappers, arguing that ransom payments incentivise further attacks. In 2024, President Bola Tinubu reiterated that the government would not pay kidnappers in similar cases.
As of press time, authorities have not publicly confirmed the AFP claims.
Background: The Papiri School Kidnapping
The controversy stems from the November 2025 attack on St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, where more than 300 pupils and teachers were seized by armed assailants in one of Nigeria’s largest recent school abductions.
The incident intensified national and international concern over Nigeria’s worsening security landscape, particularly the persistent targeting of schools by armed groups seeking ransom payments.
Although many of the victims were eventually released, authorities did not fully disclose the circumstances surrounding their freedom at the time.
Legal and Security Implications
If independently verified, the alleged payment could raise significant legal and policy questions. Nigerian law prohibits ransom payments to kidnappers, and security analysts warn that such transactions may:
Strengthen insurgent financing networks
Encourage further mass abductions
Undermine official deterrence policy
However, some security experts note that governments worldwide often face intense humanitarian pressure when large numbers of children are held captive.
Wider Security Context
Nigeria has experienced a wave of school kidnappings over the past decade, driven by both jihadist factions and heavily armed criminal groups. The pattern has exposed persistent gaps in rural security coverage and emergency response capacity.
Analysts say the Papiri incident underscores the continuing challenge facing the Tinubu administration as it balances a hardline anti-ransom stance with the urgent need to save lives.
Sources
Agence France-Presse (AFP)
Vanguard
Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ)
OkayAfrica
Reuters
Associated Press
Mustapha Labake Omowumi is a journalist from Ibadan, Oyo State, and a graduate of the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) in Economics and Mathematics. He demonstrates a strong commitment to professional journalism, with a keen interest in writing and storytelling, guided by principles of self-discipline, accuracy, and trustworthiness.
About The Author
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