The nightmare began on November 21, 2025, when gunmen stormed the Catholic boarding school in rural Papiri, central Niger State, kidnapping nearly 300 pupils (initially reported as 315, including 303 students and 12 teachers) and staff. At least 50 victims escaped in the immediate aftermath, but the remaining hostages faced weeks of terror. After intense negotiations led personally by Ribadu, the captives were released in stages: an initial group of about 100 children first, followed by the rest by late December 2025, with all eventually reunited with families in Minna.
Official denials have been emphatic. The Department of State Services (DSS) and other government spokespeople insisted throughout that "government agents don’t pay ransoms," crediting the releases to security pressure and diplomacy. Yet an explosive Agence France-Presse (AFP) investigation, published February 23, 2026, and corroborated by outlets including Daily Trust, The Guardian Nigeria, and RFI, paints a far darker picture. Four intelligence sources with direct knowledge of the talks revealed that a "huge" ransom was paid— one estimate: approximately 40 million naira per person, totaling roughly $7 million USD (based on exchange rates at the time); another pegged the overall sum at about N2 billion (around $1.2–1.5 million, though some sensational reports inflated it to N10 billion).
The payment was allegedly transported by aircraft—helicopter—to Gwoza, a notorious Boko Haram stronghold in Borno State near the Cameroon border. The funds were handed to militant commander Ali Ngulde, who reportedly crossed briefly into Cameroon to confirm receipt amid poor network coverage in the remote area. As part of the deal, two Boko Haram commanders were released from custody. The abductors belonged to a faction led by the feared commander known as Sadiku, previously linked to high-profile atrocities—including the March 2022 gun-and-bomb attack on the Abuja-Kaduna passenger train that derailed the service, killed passengers, and led to the abduction of dozens (including bankers and officials) for hefty ransoms.
This operation directly contravenes Nigeria's 2022 amendment to the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, which imposes at least 15 years' imprisonment on anyone—including officials—who pays, facilitates, or negotiates ransoms with terrorists or kidnappers. The law was enacted precisely to starve the "kidnapping economy" fueling insecurity across the north.
The Papiri case fits a disturbing pattern under the Tinubu administration. Mass abductions have surged since 2023, with thousands kidnapped in incidents like the March 2024 Kuriga school raid (287 students, quick release amid ransom whispers), the November 2025 Birnin Yauri school attack in Kebbi (25 girls taken, most freed swiftly), and others where official "rescues" contrast sharply with allegations of backroom payments. Critics, including former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai—who accused Ribadu in September 2025 of sponsoring bandits with billions—now see vindication in these leaks.
As ministries grapple with severe cash shortages—N10 trillion shortfalls stalling capital projects, revenue crises, and borrowing spirals—the diversion of vast sums to terrorists and alleged media influencers to suppress scandals demands urgent scrutiny. Nigerians deserve transparency: Who authorized the helicopter delivery? Were the released commanders, including those connected to past train bombings, vetted for risk? Will there be prosecutions under the anti-ransom law?
This is not mere negotiation—it's alleged state-sponsored terror financing. The Tinubu government must launch an independent probe, hold accountable those involved, and end the cycle of secret deals that embolden kidnappers. Silence only ensures more schools will be targeted, more families shattered, and more billions vanish into the shadows.
Abuja Network News
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