No ransom paid for release of Dapchi girls - Minister

The Minister of Information, Lai Muhammed has denied media reports that ransom was paid to terrorist group, Boko Haram for Wednesday's release of the kidnapped Dapchi school girls.

Briefing journalists in Maiduguri on Wednesday , Alhaji Lai Mohammed said that all the 106 persons were freed unconditionally, contrary to reports in a section of the media that ransom was paid and some insurgents swapped for the release of the abducted persons.

“It is not true that we paid ransom for the release of the Dapchi girls, neither was there a prisoner swap to secure their release,” he said.

“What happened was that the abduction itself was a breach of the ceasefire talks between the insurgents and the Government, hence it became a moral burden on the abductors. Any report that we paid ransom or engaged in prisoner swap is false.”