The Peoples Democratic Party has called on the Federal Government to immediately halt all ransom payments and take decisive action to curb the rising wave of kidnappings across Nigeria.
PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, raised alarm over reports that trillions of naira have allegedly been paid to criminal groups under the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.
On Monday, a report by Agence France-Presse, citing three intelligence sources, claimed that the government allegedly paid a substantial ransom—ranging from N2 billion in total to as much as N40 million per individual (around $7 million)—to secure the release of students abducted from St. Mary’s Boarding School in Niger State.
The report stated that the ransom was reportedly delivered in cash by helicopter to a Boko Haram commander in Gwoza, Borno State.
In response, the Federal Government, through the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, on Tuesday dismissed the allegations as “completely false and baseless,” asserting that the reports undermine the professionalism and integrity 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. For the avoidance of doubt, no ransom was paid, and no militant commanders were freed,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, the PDP warned that paying ransoms only encourages kidnappers and exacerbates the country’s security challenges.
