By Obinna Uballa
Fresh concerns have emerged across Nigeria following an explosive report alleging that the administration of President Bola Tinubu paid N2 billion to Boko Haram terrorists to secure the release of abducted pupils and staff of St Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State.
The report by AFP news agency, which cited multiple intelligence sources, claimed the payment was made after the insurgents demanded $7 million in exchange for the freedom of about 230 pupils and staff kidnapped in November 2025.
The revelation has sparked anxiety among Nigerians who fear that such a large payout, if confirmed, could embolden terrorist groups and deepen the country’s security crisis.
According to the report, the terrorists initially demanded N40 million per captive, amounting to roughly $7 million. However, sources familiar with the negotiations reportedly said the government eventually settled for a lump sum of N2 billion. The report further alleged that part of the agreement included the release of certain Boko Haram commanders.
The mass abduction occurred on November 21, 2025, in Papiri, central Niger State, where nearly 300 pupils and staff were taken during the attack. About 50 reportedly escaped in the chaos, while the remaining victims were held in captivity.
On December 22, 2025, Nigerian authorities publicly celebrated what they described as a successful rescue operation that led to the safe return of the victims. However, AFP’s account suggests the release may have followed a negotiated settlement rather than a purely military rescue, a claim that has unsettled many Nigerians who had believed the government’s official narrative.
Three intelligence sources quoted in the report said the ransom money was allegedly transported by helicopter to Gwoza in Borno State, a known Boko Haram stronghold in the northeast. The funds were reportedly delivered to a militant commander identified as Ali Ngulde.
Because of poor telecommunications coverage in the area, Ngulde was said to have crossed into neighbouring Cameroon to confirm receipt of the money before the insurgents released an initial batch of 100 children.
The Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), which AFP said handled negotiations over a two-week period, declined to comment when contacted by the news agency. The State Security Service reiterated the government’s longstanding position that it does not pay ransom to terrorist groups.
Successive Nigerian administrations have publicly maintained a no-ransom policy, arguing that paying insurgents fuels further violence and strengthens their operational capacity. Security analysts warn that if terrorists perceive ransom payments as guaranteed, kidnappings could escalate, particularly targeting schools and vulnerable rural communities.
For many Nigerians, the alleged payment – coming at a time of economic hardship and fiscal strain – raises troubling questions about national security strategy and accountability. Critics argue that making billions of naira available to insurgents could inadvertently finance more sophisticated attacks, weapons procurement, and recruitment.
Boko Haram has been responsible for some of the country’s most devastating terrorist incidents, including the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction that drew global outrage and exposed weaknesses in Nigeria’s security architecture.
While the safe return of the Niger State pupils was widely welcomed, the emerging allegations have shifted public discourse from relief to apprehension. Many citizens now question the long-term implications of any financial settlement with terrorist groups and whether such measures ultimately protect or imperil national security.
