President Bola Tinubu has reiterated that the Federal Government will neither negotiate with kidnappers nor pay ransom for the release of abducted victims, insisting that yielding to such demands would embolden terrorists and bandits.
The President stated this on Thursda y while receiving traditional rulers from Oyo State, led by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Speaking on the recent rescue of pupils and teachers abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Tinubu said the government rejected the kidnappers’ demands, which included the payment of ransom and the release of detained members of their criminal network.
“We refuse to negotiate for ransom. These criminals wanted us to release from detention members of their criminal gangs who had already been 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 said.
Tinubu noted that some of the criminal elements operating in Nigeria were foreign nationals, adding that insecurity in neighbouring countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso and the Niger Republic had worsened Nigeria’s security challenges.
He disclosed that the Federal Government was strengthening the nation’s security architecture by increasing military formations from eight to 12 divisions to improve response time against terrorism and banditry.
“We refuse to pay ransom. We know the geography of the forests. We know what it is, and in response to it, you have seen that we are moving from eight divisions to 12 divisions to shorten the response time and give that response the teeth needed for us to defeat terrorism and banditry,” Tinubu stated.
The President also reaffirmed his support for the establishment of state police, assuring Nigerians that safeguards would be put in place to prevent abuse while giving traditional rulers a role in community policing.
“We will have state police, and that state police will have guardrails against abuse. We will protect it from abuse, and you traditional rulers too will have a role to play,” he said.
He added that the Federal Government was strengthening the capacity of forest guards to tackle criminal activities within forest reserves.
“We are equally enhancing the capacity and capability of the forest guards. They are not just to chase antelopes and animals. We are going to have them chase criminals and deal with them in the forests,” Tinubu said.
The President stressed the importance of intelligence gathering and urged Nigerians to remain vigilant by reporting suspicious persons and activities within their communities.
According to him, security agencies are constantly reviewing their strategies to address emerging threats, noting that every incident provides lessons for improving operations.
Tinubu also pledged to hold regular consultations with traditional rulers across the country to receive their recommendations on governance and security.
He commended members of the Armed Forces and other security agencies for their efforts in combating insecurity and called on state governors to invest increased federal allocations in projects that enhance security and connectivity.
The President’s remarks come weeks after security operatives rescued 44 pupils and teachers abducted during the May 15 attack on schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State after spending 56 days in captivity.
Three suspects linked to the abduction have since been sentenced to life imprisonment after pleading guilty to terrorism-related offences, while five others are currently facing trial over the attack.
The Oyo State Government has also strengthened its security operations with the deployment of two surveillance aircraft to enhance intelligence gathering and rapid response across the state.
Channels Television
