The Federal Government of Nigeria has dismissed allegations that it paid ransom or released militant commanders to secure the freedom of schoolchildren abducted from St. Mary’s Boarding School in Niger State.

In a press statement issued on Tuesday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the claims circulating in sections of the media as “completely false and baseless.”

The statement was issued in response to a publication attributed to international wire services alleging that the government paid a “huge” ransom, including freeing militant commanders, to facilitate the pupils’ release.

According to the minister, the allegations amount to a disservice to the professionalism and sacrifices of Nigeria’s security forces. He stressed that no ransom was paid and no militant commanders were released as part of efforts to secure the children’s freedom.

“For the avoidance of doubt, no ransom was paid, and no militant commanders were freed,” the statement read.

The government faulted the report for relying on anonymous “intelligence sources” and individuals “familiar with the talks,” noting that constituted authorities had publicly denied the claims. It cited on-the-record refutations by the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services, and the leadership of the National Assembly.

The statement further described as fictitious the allegation that ransom was delivered by helicopter to insurgents with cross-border confirmation of receipt. The Department of State Services was quoted as dismissing the claim as “fake and laughable.”

The government maintained that the successful rescue of the pupils without casualties was achieved through coordinated intelligence gathering and operational precision, stressing that Nigeria is confronting a structured, profit-driven criminal enterprise.

It urged media organisations to verify information before publication, warning that speculative reports could embolden criminal elements and undermine troop morale.