The government of President Bola Tinubu reportedly paid about N10 billion and released two top Boko Haram commanders to secure the freedom of St. Mary’s pupils, AFP said, citing sources familiar with the case.
Over 300 pupils and staff were kidnapped last November.
According to a report published on Monday, the Nigerian government handed over a ‘huge’ ransom in millions of dollars to free up to 230 children and staff taken by Boko Haram from a Catholic school in November.
Besides the ransom, AFP noted that the deal also involved freeing two Boko Haram commanders, a move that goes against Nigeria’s law which forbids paying kidnappers.
Citing two sources, AFP reported that “the total ransom at N40 million per head — around $7 million in total”, while “another put the figure lower at N2 billion overall”.
The $7 million is said to have covered 230 schoolchildren and an unspecified number of teachers, though official numbers differ. At a conversion rate of N1,400 to the dollar, the total ransom comes to about N9.8 billion.
The report added that the office of the National Security Adviser, Mr. Babagana Ribadu, insisted he had repeatedly secured hostages’ release without paying any ransom to criminals.
On December 21, 2025, the government announced the release of 130 children and staff of St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, Niger, who were kidnapped on November 20.
Earlier, 50 pupils had managed to escape between November 21 and 22.
On December 7, the government said it had secured the release of 100 more kidnapped children.
Since President Tinubu took office, hundreds of abductions and killings have been recorded across the country.
Before the St. Mary’s abduction, 25 girls were kidnapped from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Kebbi by bandits.
As of press time, the Presidency has not issued a fresh statement responding directly to the AFP investigation.
