Exclusive: Intelligence Sources Allege Nigerian Government Paid Multimillion-Dollar Ransom to Boko Haram for Release of Kidnapped School Pupils

 

In a revelation that has sparked intense debate and official denials, multiple intelligence sources have claimed that the Nigerian federal government secretly paid a substantial ransom—estimated in the millions of dollars—to Islamist militant group Boko Haram to secure the freedom of up to 230 pupils and staff abducted from St. Mary's Catholic Boarding School in Papiri, Niger State, last November.

The mass abduction occurred on November 21, 2025, when gunmen stormed the school in the central-western state of Niger, seizing children, teachers, and other staff. While at least 50 victims reportedly escaped shortly afterward, the remaining hostages were held for approximately two weeks before their release following negotiations reportedly led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.

Official government statements, including from the National Security Adviser himself, have consistently maintained that no ransom was paid and that the release resulted from "professional intelligence and operational precision" through back-channel efforts. However, an investigation by Agence France-Presse (AFP), citing four intelligence sources directly familiar with the negotiations, paints a different picture.

According to these sources, the government agreed to a "huge" financial payment delivered by helicopter to Boko Haram's stronghold in Gwoza, Borno State, near the Cameroon border. Estimates of the ransom vary: one source claimed approximately 40 million naira (roughly $30,000 at current exchange rates) per captive, totaling around $7 million for the group. Another put the overall figure lower at about 2 billion naira (approximately $1.5 million).

The deal allegedly also included the release of two senior Boko Haram commanders previously in custody, a concession that would contravene Nigeria's 2022 law prohibiting payments or concessions to kidnappers and terrorists.

Analysts and experts on the Nigerian conflict have linked the kidnapping to a notorious Boko Haram commander known as "Sadiku," who has been associated with previous high-profile abductions and attacks in the region. While Boko Haram has not historically been the primary perpetrator of school kidnappings in Niger State—often attributed to bandit groups—the involvement of this commander suggests possible collaboration or shifting alliances among armed factions.

The government's swift rebuttal came from Information Minister Mohammed Idris, who described the AFP report as "completely false and baseless," labeling it a "disservice to the professionalism and integrity" of Nigeria's security forces. He reiterated that no money changed hands and no militants were released as part of any deal.

The allegations have reignited broader concerns about Nigeria's ongoing struggle with kidnapping-for-ransom, banditry, and jihadist insurgency. Critics argue that any ransom payments—whether official or through proxies—only embolden criminal and terrorist groups, perpetuating a vicious cycle of abductions, particularly targeting schools and vulnerable communities.

This incident adds to a long list of school kidnappings in Nigeria since the infamous 2014 Chibok abduction, where over 200 girls were taken by Boko Haram. Many were eventually freed through negotiations, with persistent rumors of ransoms despite official denials.

As investigations and public scrutiny continue, the controversy highlights the delicate balance between rescuing victims swiftly and adhering to policies aimed at weakening kidnap economies. Neither Boko Haram nor independent verification of the ransom delivery has been forthcoming, leaving the claims reliant on anonymous intelligence insiders.

For now, the pupils are safe and reunited with families, but the debate over how that freedom was achieved—and at what long-term cost—shows no signs of abating.