The Digest:
The Federal Government has dismissed as "completely false and baseless" reports alleging it paid a huge ransom and released militant commanders to secure the freedom of schoolchildren abducted from St Mary's boarding school in Niger State. In a statement by Information Minister Muhammad Idris, the government rejected the narrative built on "shadowy, unnamed sources," stating unequivocally: "For the avoidance of doubt, no ransom was paid, and no militant commanders were freed." The statement noted that the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Department of State Services (DSS), and National Assembly leadership have all publicly refuted claims of ransom payment. Idris described the alleged helicopter delivery of ransom to insurgents as "fiction," with the DSS calling it "fake and laughable." He attributed the successful rescue of pupils without casualty to "professional intelligence and operational precision," urging media to verify facts before publishing speculative reports that risk emboldening criminals.
Key Points:
- The government's denial seeks to counter narratives undermining security forces' professionalism.
- It aims to prevent reports from emboldening criminal enterprises.
- Security agencies' credibility is defended, while anonymous sources questioned.
- This signals the government's sensitivity to ransom payment allegations.
- The timing, after contradictory reports, demands clarity.
Sources: Daily Post Nigeria, Ministry of Information
