ONSA Denies Supporting Ransom Payments to Terrorists, Calls Report False and Baseless

T The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has dismissed as false a report alleging that it coordinated a policy of paying ransoms and offering incentives to bandits.

In a statement signed by Zakari Mijinyawa, ONSA described the report as baseless, stressing that at no time has the office or any arm of government under the present administration engaged in ransom payments or inducements to criminals.

“On the contrary, the Office of the National Security Adviser has consistently warned Nigerians against paying ransom,” the statement said.

The office explained that, from inception, the federal government adopted a dual strategy to counter insecurity—combining decisive kinetic operations with community engagements aimed at addressing local grievances.