The Federal Government of Nigeria
has dismissed reports claiming it paid a large ransom and released militant
commanders to secure the release of schoolchildren abducted from St.
Mary’s Boarding School in Niger State.
The claims, circulating in international
media, suggested that the government had made a “huge” payment and freed
militants to secure the children’s freedom.
In a statement signed by the Muhammad
Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, the Federal
Government described the reports as “completely false and baseless” and said
they undermine the professionalism and sacrifices of Nigeria’s security forces.
“While we respect the freedom of the press,
we firmly reject a narrative built on shadowy, unnamed sources seeking to
undermine the credibility of a sovereign government acting within its laws,”
the statement read.
The government clarified that no
ransom was paid and no militant commanders were released, noting that
the allegations relied entirely on anonymous sources and contradicted clear,
on-the-record denials by constituted authorities.
The statement highlighted that the Office
of the National Security Adviser, Department of State Services,
and leadership of the National Assembly had all publicly refuted the claims. It
further noted contradictions in the report, including false assertions that
ransom was delivered by helicopter and cross-border confirmation of receipt,
which the DSS dismissed as “fake and laughable.”
The Federal Government emphasized that the
successful rescue of the pupils, achieved without casualties, was the result of
professional intelligence and operational precision. It urged the media to
verify facts before publishing speculative reports that could embolden
criminals or undermine troop morale.
Comments:
Leave a Reply