At least 2.4 million dollars has been paid to secure the release of schoolchildren in separate kidnapping incidents in the North-West region since November 2020.

This is according to a report of the National Security Summit organized by the House of Representatives between May 26 and 29, 2021.

Although, the report said government authorities denied paying such money, it however, stated that sources aware of the negotiations that led to the release confirmed the amount.

The Reps however said that paying such amount was capable of further increasing insecurity in the region, as the ransom payments will be used by the criminals to sustain the war they have been waging against the country.