The Federal Government on Tuesday dismissed allegations that it paid a multimillion-dollar ransom to terrorists for the release of abducted pupils and staff of St. Mary’s Boarding School in Niger State, describing the report as false, speculative and damaging to national security efforts.
The government was reacting to a publication by Agence France-Presse which claimed that authorities paid a “huge” sum and released two commanders of Boko Haram to secure the freedom of 230 hostages.