Nigeria denies report it paid 'huge' ransom to free pupil...

What’s Happening

Listen up: The rebuttal was followed by news the police chief was resigning a year before the end of his term.

Nigeria denies report it paid huge ransom to free pupils in mass abduction 27 minutes ago Save Chris Ewokor BBC Africa, Abuja Save EPA/ More than 200 pupils and staff were taken St Marys School in November - all were freed by Christmas Nigerias government has rejected a media report alleging that it paid a “huge” ransom to Islamist militant group Boko Haram to secure the release of more than 200 pupils and staff abducted from a Catholic boarding school in November. Information Minister Mohammed Idris described the allegation, made news agency quoting intelligence sources, as “completely false and baseless” and a “disservice to the professionalism and integrity” of the security forces. (it feels like chaos)

He also shut down that two Boko Haram commanders were freed as part of the deal.

The Details

In a separate announcement, a presidential spokesman has dropped police chief Kayode Egbetokun, a close ally of President Bola Tinubu, has resigned. The spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, dropped the resignation - a year ahead of the end of Egbetokuns term - was for “pressing family considerations”.

His deputy Tunji Disu has been appointed as acting chief at a time when the country faces mounting security pressures. This includes kidnap for ransom, which is big business in parts of Nigeria - with the culprits ranging from Islamists militants, members of gangs known as “bandits” and separatists.

Why This Matters

The kidnap gangs, jihadists and separatists wreaking havoc in Nigeria Nigerian villagers too scared to speak after hundreds of schoolchildren kidnapped Some analysts cited that the kidnapping from St Marys School in Papiri in the western state of Niger was led by a notorious Boko Haram militant commander known as “Sadiku”, who had before been linked to other high-profile kidnappings and attacks.

Global events like this tend to have ripple effects worldwide.

The Bottom Line

This story is still developing, and we’ll keep you updated as more info drops.

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