The administration of Bola Tinubu allegedly paid N2 billion in ransom and released two senior Boko Haram commanders to secure the freedom of pupils from St. Mary’s school.
AFP citing sources familiar with the negotiations claimed that the federal government paid Islamic militants a huge ransom running into millions of dollars to secure the release of up to 230 children and staff kidnapped from the Catholic school.
In addition to the multimillion-dollar payment, AFP reported that two Boko Haram commanders were freed as part of the arrangement, a move said to contradict Nigeria’s law prohibiting ransom payments to kidnappers.
Quoting two sources, AFP said, “The total ransom at N40 million per head, around $7 million in total,” while another source estimated the figure at about N2 billion overall.
The reported $7 million covered the 230 schoolchildren and an unspecified number of teachers, although official figures varied. At an exchange rate of N1,400 to the dollar, the amount translates to roughly N9.8 billion.
However, the office of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, maintained that he had repeatedly secured the release of hostages without paying ransom to bandits.
On December 21, 2025, the government announced the release of 130 pupils and staff of St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, in Niger State, who were kidnapped on November 20.
Fifty of the pupils had earlier escaped between November 21 and 22. Earlier, on December 7, authorities also announced the release of 100 of the abducted schoolchildren.
Since Tinubu assumed office, the country has witnessed hundreds of abductions and killings.
Before the Catholic school incident, 25 girls from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Kebbi State were also kidnapped by bandits.
