Tinubu govt paid Boko Haram billions in ransom for kidnapped pupils: AFP

Nigeria’s government under President Bola Tinubu paid a huge ransom to Boko Haram to secure the release of over 200 kidnapped schoolchildren, according to a report by Agence France-Presse (AFP), citing multiple sources familiar with the negotiations.

The disclosure contradicts the federal government’s public position that it does not pay ransom to armed groups.

AFP reported that intermediaries and local officials confirmed that money changed hands during efforts to free pupils abducted in mass kidnappings that have shaken northern Nigeria in recent years. While authorities have typically described such releases as the result of “rescue operations” or “negotiations,” sources told AFP that payments were part of the arrangements.

Nigeria has endured repeated mass abductions of schoolchildren by Boko Haram and its splinter factions, including the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). The tactic, first used prominently in the 2014 Chibok girls’ kidnapping, has evolved into a lucrative strategy for armed groups seeking funds and leverage.

According to AFP, the latest case involved protracted talks through community leaders and other intermediaries. The report did not specify the exact amount paid but said the ransom was part of a broader effort to secure the safe return of the children without further bloodshed.

Successive Nigerian administrations have publicly maintained a policy of refusing ransom payments, arguing that such transactions embolden militant groups and perpetuate the cycle of kidnappings.

However, security analysts have long suggested that payments, sometimes facilitated by families, local authorities or third parties, often occur behind the scenes.

According to the AFP, one source put the total ransom paid by the Tinubu administration at N40 million naira per head, which brings the total to nearly N10 billion.

Another put the figure lower at N2 billion overall.

Pluboard could not immediately reach the National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu for comments. The AFP said Ribadu did not reply to multiple AFP requests for comment.

The State Security Service flatly denied paying any money, saying: “Government agents don’t pay ransoms.”

While the pupils and staff were in captivity, Ribadu sparked outrage after telling distressed parents their children were doing well and would be released.

Surge in School Kidnappings

Northern Nigeria has witnessed a surge in school kidnappings in recent years, with criminal gangs and jihadist factions targeting rural boarding schools. Families, already struggling with poverty and insecurity, frequently bear the brunt of ransom demands.

AFP noted that government officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the allegation of ransom payments. In previous cases, authorities have described releases as humanitarian outcomes or security successes without detailing the mechanics of negotiations.

Security experts warn that ransom payments can strengthen armed groups financially, allowing them to procure weapons, recruit fighters and sustain operations.

Tinubu, who took office pledging to restore security and end the insurgency, has faced mounting pressure to stem kidnappings and insurgent violence. While the number of high-profile mass abductions fluctuates, communities across the north continue to grapple with persistent threats from militant groups.

The AFP report has angered many online who argue that paying such a huge sum to terrorists translates to effectively arming the criminals to continue to attack Nigerians.