A contentious report by the global news agency, Agence France-Presse (AFP), has accused the Nigerian government, under President Bola Tinubu's administration, of secretly paying billions of naira to Boko Haram terrorists. This alleged payment was purportedly made to secure the release of approximately 230 schoolchildren and teachers who were abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic boarding school in Papiri, Niger State, on November 21. This action, if confirmed, would represent a direct violation of Nigeria’s stringent anti-ransom laws, which criminalize such payments.

The mass kidnapping, which initially involved nearly 300 pupils and staff, shocked the nation, though at least 50 victims reportedly managed to escape captivity. According to intelligence sources cited by AFP, the Nigerian government purportedly paid a substantial ransom, with figures ranging from N2 billion to N10 billion. One source estimated the payment at approximately N40 million per hostage, totaling around $7 million, while others pegged the overall figure at N2 billion. These funds were allegedly transported by helicopter into Boko Haram’s stronghold in Gwoza, Borno State, near the Cameroon border, and handed over to Ali Ngulde, a senior Boko Haram commander. Due to poor communication networks, Ngulde reportedly crossed into Cameroon to confirm receipt before the first batch of 100 children was released.

The AFP investigation identified a notorious Boko Haram figure known as Sadiku as the mastermind behind the Papiri abduction. Sadiku is also infamous for hijacking a passenger train from Abuja in 2022 and extracting hefty ransoms, allegedly operating a terror cell in Niger State despite the group's traditional stronghold being in the northeast. The report further alleged that two Boko Haram commanders were freed as part of the negotiations to secure the children's release—a move expected to provoke significant outrage among security analysts and international partners. Negotiations for the release were reportedly led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.

Despite these serious allegations, the Nigerian government has vehemently denied any payment of ransom or the release of militant commanders. Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) explicitly stated, "Government agents don’t pay ransoms." Similarly, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammad Idris, issued a strong statement dismissing the AFP report as "completely false and baseless." He argued that the report relied on "shadowy, unnamed sources" and contained "contradictions that expose its speculative character," particularly regarding the conflicting accounts of the alleged ransom amount. The assertion that ransom was delivered by helicopter and confirmed cross-border was also formally dismissed by the DSS as "fake and laughable."

Minister Idris further asserted that the successful rescue of the pupils, achieved "without casualty," was the direct result of "professional intelligence and operational precision" by Nigeria's security forces. He emphasized that the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the DSS, and the leadership of the National Assembly have all publicly refuted claims of ransom payment, presenting "on-the-record denials issued by constituted authorities" in contrast to AFP's anonymous sources. The government reiterated its unwavering commitment to security and urged media outlets to verify facts rigorously to avoid emboldening criminals or undermining troop morale.

This controversy unfolds against the backdrop of Nigeria's concerted efforts to combat kidnapping and terrorism. In 2022, the Nigerian Senate amended the Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2013, prescribing a minimum of 15 years’ imprisonment for anyone who pays ransom to free kidnap victims. This legal framework aimed to deter the rising spate of abductions for ransom across the country. The alleged government payout, if proven true, would represent a dramatic breach of this recently reinforced law.

Nigeria has been plagued by a persistent pattern of mass abductions over the years, with armed gangs and jihadist groups exploiting weak security architecture to extort millions from families and communities. Notable incidents include the 2018 Dapchi schoolgirls abduction by Boko Haram, the 2021 Jangebe schoolgirls abduction, and the 2022 Abuja-Kaduna train attack, for which ransom payments were also alleged. Other tragic incidents, such as the killing of victims in Oyo State in 2022 and Bwari in 2024 despite ransom demands, underscore the severity of the crisis. The revelation by AFP could also create diplomatic tensions, particularly with the United States, given previous U.S. interventions and its stance against ransom payments to terrorist groups, potentially undermining international military cooperation.