A claim by Lagos-based Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) chieftain Ife Salako alleging that Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported President Bola Tinubu’s administration paid billions of naira to kidnappers to secure the release of abducted schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo state has been found to be misleading.
Salako made the claim in a social media post on Monday, July 20, 2026, alongside a video.
He wrote:
“One of the teachers already said the kidnappers freed them and not that the soldiers rescued them.
“Now, AFP is reporting that Tinubu paid kidnappers billions to rescue the Oyo victims.
“Supporters of APC, is this how you much you hate this country?”
The post attracted more than 10,000 views.
See the post below:
One of the teachers already said the kidnappers freed them and not that the soldiers rescued them.
Now, AFP is reporting that Tinubu paid kidnappers billions to rescue the Oyo victims.
Supporters of APC, is this how you much you hate this country?
Ire o✌🏾…
— Ife Salako (@ifesalakooffice) July 20, 2026
The claim followed the release of over 40 pupils and teachers abducted from schools in Oyo state in May.
On July 10, 2026, the Nigerian military announced that the victims had been rescued during an operation that also led to the arrest of some of the kidnappers. The military added that several security personnel lost their lives during the rescue mission.
After regaining their freedom, the victims received medical attention before reuniting with their families.
However, verifications found that Salako’s claim misrepresented the AFP report he cited.
The AFP investigation was not about the Oyo school abduction but the November 2025 kidnapping of pupils and staff at a Catholic school in Niger state.
According to the AFP investigation, intelligence sources alleged that the Nigerian government paid Boko Haram militants a “huge” ransom worth millions of dollars to secure the release of up to 230 pupils and staff.
The report also claimed that two Boko Haram commanders were released as part of the arrangement, with the money allegedly delivered by helicopter to the insurgents’ stronghold in Gwoza, Borno state.
The federal government, however, rejected the allegations. Minister of Information Mohammed Idris described the AFP report as “completely false and baseless” and said it was “a disservice to the professionalism and integrity” of Nigeria’s security forces. He also dismissed claims that two Boko Haram commanders were released as part of any agreement.
Legit.ng further established that the video Salako used to support his claim was originally produced by media personality Adeola Fayehun before it was reposted on X by user @NaturalDoris on July 19, 2026, with the caption:
“Breaking News: Tinubu and Nigeria Government paid Boko Haram 10 Billion Naira to free the school children who were kidnapped!
“Nigeria is sitting on a time bomb.”
See below:
*Breaking News: Tinubu and Nigeria Government paid Bokom Haram 10 Billion Naira to free the school children who were kidnapped!*
*Nigeria is sitting on a time bomb 💣💥!* pic.twitter.com/Z6KvKj1nAZ
— DORIS 💎 (@NaturalDoris) July 19, 2026
The fact-check also showed that Fayehun’s commentary in the video focused on the November 2025 Niger state school abduction, not the Oyo school kidnapping. During the video, she explicitly identified Niger state as the location of the incident.
Based on findings, it can be concluded that, as of Monday, July 20, 2026, there was no AFP report stating that the Tinubu administration paid terrorists to secure the release of the Oyo school abduction victims. The claim circulated by Salako was therefore misleading.
