Militant attacks have intensified across parts of northern Nigeria by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), as an investigation revealed that Boko Haram received more than $7 million to release abductees.

An investigation by Agence France-Presse reported that authorities in Abuja paid a “large ransom” to secure the release of 230 children abducted from their Catholic school in Niger state on Nov. 21, 2025.

The students were kidnapped from St. Mary’s School in Babiri, central Nigeria, in an incident that shocked the country and came amid diplomatic pressure on Nigeria from Washington over security concerns.

The Nigerian government did not immediately comment on the findings.