Families Say Ransom Was Paid. Government Says ‘Rescue.’ Who Really Pays When Nigerians Are Kidnapped?

The government called it a military rescue, but a survivor and a community leader told TruthNigeria that the captives were released before soldiers arrived, raising questions about whether negotiations happened behind closed doors. President Bola Tinubu said the Oriire victims were freed through a military operation and that his administration refused ransom demands or any deal involving detained criminals. Olatunde told TruthNigeria the abductors demanded ransom and threatened to kill captives. Ordinary Nigerians are paying the ransom,” Ojomo says. For Oriire families, the rescue ended 56 days of fear.