Government Accused of Paying Millions to Secure Release of Abducted Schoolchildren

Fresh claims have emerged that the Nigerian government paid a substantial ransom to secure the release of more than 200 pupils and staff abducted from a Catholic boarding school in Niger State last November.

According to several intelligence sources familiar with the negotiations, millions of dollars were allegedly handed over to militants linked to Boko Haram as part of a deal that also included the release of two detained commanders. The arrangement, if confirmed, would contradict Nigeria’s law prohibiting ransom payments to kidnappers.

The students and staff were seized from St. Mary’s boarding school in Papiri on November 21. While about 50 of those taken reportedly escaped on their own, the majority were held for roughly two weeks before regaining freedom.

Sources claimed the ransom was transported by air to the insurgents’ base in Gwoza, Borno State, near the Cameroon border, and delivered to a local commander identified as Ali Ngulde. Due to limited telecommunications coverage in the area, confirmation of the payment was allegedly made across the border in Cameroon before the first batch of 100 children was released.

Government officials have consistently denied that any ransom was paid. The State Security Service rejected the allegations outright, insisting that government agents do not engage in ransom transactions. However, officials acknowledged that families sometimes raise funds independently to secure the release of loved ones.

Negotiations for the students’ freedom were reportedly coordinated by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu. His office has maintained that several hostages have been freed in past operations without financial concessions.

Although Boko Haram had not initially claimed responsibility for the Papiri abduction, security sources indicated that a notorious commander known as Sadiku was behind the operation. Sadiku has previously been linked to high profile attacks, including the 2022 assault on a passenger train travelling between Abuja and Kaduna, during which hostages were also released following reported payments.

The allegations came at a time when Nigeria continues to battle widespread kidnapping across multiple regions. Armed groups and criminal gangs have increasingly relied on abductions for financial gain, targeting schools, communities and travellers. Data from conflict monitoring organisations show hundreds of kidnapping incidents recorded over the past year, many involving multiple victims.

Despite the 2022 legislation criminalising ransom payments, enforcement has proven difficult. Families of abducted persons often resort to private negotiations or crowdfunding efforts when official channels fail to produce swift results. Analysts say the persistent cycle of abductions and payments has evolved into a structured criminal enterprise driven by poverty, weak security and organised armed networks.

The reported mass abduction in Papiri also unfolded amid heightened international attention on Nigeria’s security situation, particularly concerning attacks affecting Christian communities. However, experts note that victims of kidnapping in Nigeria come from diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds.

As authorities continue to deny any financial settlement in the St. Mary’s case, questions remain about the true cost of securing the students’ release and the broader implications for Nigeria’s fight against insurgency and organised crime.

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