Though the federal government last week denied paying ransom to terrorists for the rescue of schoolchildren, security analysts believe that those who pay ransom are unwittingly sponsoring terrorism and banditry in Nigeria, Davidson Iriekpen writes
The federal government last week vehemently rejected the reports that it paid ransom or released militant commanders to secure the freedom of pupils and staff abducted from St Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, Niger State.
About 300 students and 12 teachers were kidnapped by gunmen in the attack on November 21, 2025. While about 50 of them were said to have later escaped, others remained in the kidnappers’ den.
