Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
President Bola Tinubu has firmly declared that his administration will not pay ransom to terrorists or negotiate with kidnappers, revealing that the Federal Government rejected demands from the abductors of 44 pupils and teachers in Oyo State who sought both money and the release of detained gang members. Speaking on Thursday, July 30, 2026, while receiving traditional rulers from Oyo State led by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the President insisted that Nigeria would confront insecurity from a position of strength.
Tinubu disclosed that the criminals who carried out the May 15 abduction in Oriire Local Government Area wanted the government to release members of their criminal gangs already in detention as part of their conditions for freeing the hostages. "They wanted us to release from detention members of their criminal gangs that were already arrested. That was one of their conditions, apart from the money they were looking for, and we said, 'No deal.' We are not going to negotiate with criminals. They committed murder, and we were ready to finish with them," the President declared.
The President's remarks came 11 days after the successful rescue of all 39 pupils and seven teachers who had spent 56 days in captivity following the attack on Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Community Grammar School, and L.A. Primary School in the Ahoro-Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire LGA. Tinubu commended the armed forces for their excellent performance in the operation, stating: "I agree with you that we should commend the men and women of the armed forces for their excellent performance".
Outlining his administration's strategic response to the security crisis, Tinubu announced a major expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to twelve divisions to shorten response time and strengthen the fight against terrorism and banditry. "We refuse to pay ransom. We have the geography of the forest. We know what it is, and in answer to it, you will see that from eight divisions now, we are moving to 12 divisions to shorten the response time, to give that response time the teeth that is needed for us to defeat terrorism and banditry," the President stated.
Tinubu also confirmed that the Federal Government would establish state police to address security gaps at the local level, with adequate safeguards against abuse. "There will be state police. And as state police, we have a guardrail from abuses; we will protect it from abuses," he said. He further announced plans to strengthen forest guards, expanding their mandate beyond wildlife protection to pursuing criminals hiding in forests. "They are not just to chase antelopes and animals; we are going to have them chase the criminals and deal with them in various forests," the President declared.
The President also urged traditional rulers to play a greater role in supporting security efforts by encouraging communities to provide intelligence and remain vigilant. "I want you to take it to our people to be extra vigilant, to look at things critically, know their neighbourhoods, know their areas and report strange people," Tinubu said. He further challenged state governors to prioritise security spending and infrastructure development, noting that while the economy was improving, some governors were not giving adequate attention to the protection of lives and property.
Tinubu identified the worsening security situation in neighbouring Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger Republic as a complicating factor, noting that some criminal elements were crossing into Nigeria through porous borders. "The problem of insecurity in Mali, Burkina Faso and the Niger Republic is adding more fuel to our challenges," he said. The Olubadan, in his remarks, commended the President for the successful rescue operation and urged the Federal Government to sustain security operations in the forests spanning Oyo, Kwara, and Niger States to prevent criminals from regrouping.
The President's uncompromising stance on ransom payments and his commitment to restructuring Nigeria's security architecture signal a significant shift in the government's approach to tackling terrorism and banditry. As Tinubu put it: "Each event teaches us new methods, opens our eyes, challenges us to examine and re-examine our architecture, our strategy, our map and operations".
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