Nigeria Denies Ransom Payment in School Kidnapping Case
The Nigerian authorities have refuted allegations that they paid a substantial ransom to Islamist extremists to liberate over 200 kidnapped students and staff from a Catholic institution last November. The final group of captives from St Mary’s Catholic School in Niger state was freed shortly before Christmas, following what was described by a presidential aide as a “military-intelligence driven operation.”
A recent AFP report cited intelligence sources claiming that the Nigerian government might have disbursed up to seven million dollars to Boko Haram and agreed to the release of two of its commanders. However, Mohammed Idris, Nigeria’s information minister, dismissed these claims as “completely false and baseless.” According to the BBC, Idris emphasized that such allegations undermine the “professionalism and integrity” of the country’s security forces.
Nigeria’s security agencies have faced criticism for their perceived ineffectiveness in managing militant threats. Reports suggest that even when forewarned about impending attacks, the forces have been accused of inaction. In some instances, they have successfully defended certain areas while failing to prevent destruction and violence in others.
In response to the persistent violence, particularly affecting Christians, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu declared a nationwide state of emergency last November and announced plans to increase the police force size.
The United States has displayed a significant interest in the plight of Christians in Nigeria, notably with airstrikes ordered by Donald Trump on Christmas Day targeting militant bases in the northern region. A recent proposal from the US House Committees on Appropriations and Foreign Affairs advocates for a stronger US-Nigerian partnership to combat militancy.
The proposal also recommended withholding aid from Nigeria unless substantial measures are implemented to safeguard Christian communities, along with facilitating the sale of arms to Nigeria. One of the stated objectives of the policy is to prevent Russian and Chinese involvement in Nigeria.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
