Nigeria is at the center of a controversy following accusations that the government paid a substantial ransom and released jihadist commanders to the Boko Haram terrorist group in exchange for the release of nearly 300 students and teachers abducted last November in Niger State.
An investigation by Agence France-Presse (AFP) reveals that the Nigerian government secretly negotiated with Boko Haram, paying an estimated $1.5 to $7 million. In addition to this colossal sum, the agreement reportedly included the release of two commanders of the terrorist group. Paying a ransom violates Nigerian law, which formally prohibits such transactions, a position the authorities have always maintained.
According to security sources quoted by AFP, the money was transported by helicopter to Gwoza, a Boko Haram stronghold in northeastern Nigeria, near the border with Cameroon. A local leader, Ali Ngule, reportedly received the funds before traveling to Cameroon to confirm the transaction, due to communication difficulties in the region. The investigation identifies Sadiku, a Boko Haram commander operating in Niger State and already involved in the Abuja-Kaduna train attack, as the orchestrator of the kidnapping.
In response to these allegations, the Nigerian government has categorically denied paying a ransom, calling the accusations "totally false and unfounded". Nigerian Information Minister Mohammed Idris said the students' release was the result of a precise and coordinated security operation.
This case highlights the complexity of the fight against insecurity and the jihadist threat in Nigeria, where mass kidnappings have become a recurring problem. In 2022, Nigeria passed a law criminalizing ransom payments, punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Despite this law, secret payments continue, fueling what some experts call a veritable "kidnapping industry". A recent study estimates that ransoms paid to armed groups totaled $1.66 million between July 2024 and June 2025.
