How President Tinubu Govt Paid N10 billion To Boko Haram To Free Abducted Schoolchildren, Teachers: 

President Bola Tinubu , Boko Haram and National Security Adviser Ribadu

The Federal Government of President Bola Tinubu paid a humongous ransom of about N10 billion and released two top Boko Haram commanders to secure the release of 130 pupils and teachers of St. Mary’s Catholic School pupils, Papiri, Niger State, AFP has reported, citing sources familiar with the matter

On December 21, 2025, the Federal Government announced the release of the 230 schoolchildren and staff of the school, kidnapped by bandits on November 20.

The report published by the. AFP on Monday alleged that the Federal Government paid Boko Haram militants a ‘huge’ ransom of millions of dollars to free up the abducted children and staff kidnapped by the Islamic extremists from a Catholic school in November.

In addition to the ransom paid in millions of dollars by the Tinubu government, the media outlet noted that two Boko Haram commanders were also freed as part of the deal, which goes against the country’s own law banning payments to kidnappers.

Citing two sources, AFP stated 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 reportedly covered the 230 schoolchildren and an unspecified number of teaching staff, figures that vary among official sources. At a dollar rate of N1,400, the total ransom amounts to about N9.8 billion.

The president’s spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, did not immediately respond to requests for comments.

However, according to the report, the National Security Adviser Ribadu’s office insisted he had, several times, secured the release of hostages without paying a ransom to bandits.

On December 21, 2025, the Federal Government announced the release of 130 schoolchildren and staff of St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, Niger, kidnapped by bandits on November 20, even as 50 of the pupils had earlier escaped between November 21 and 22.

Then, on December 7, the government announced that it had secured the release of 100 of the kidnapped schoolchildren.

Since President Tinubu assumed power, hundreds of abductions and killings have taken place.

Prior to the Catholic school pupils’ abduction, 25 young girls from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Kebbi were abducted by bandits.