*Rejects Ransom Demand And Release Of Detained Gang Members, Says We Will Not Pay Ransom Or Negotiate With Criminals
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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed that his administration will neither negotiate with terrorists and kidnappers nor pay ransom to secure the release of abducted persons, disclosing that the abductors of the Oyo State schoolchildren demanded both money and the release of their detained associates as conditions for freeing their victims, and that the Federal Government rejected both.
The President spoke on Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, while receiving traditional rulers from Oyo State led by the Olubadan of Ibadanland.
“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, outside of the money they were looking for. And then we said, ‘No deal,'” Tinubu stated.
“We are not going to negotiate with criminals. They committed murder. And we were ready to fish them out with their families and members of their own communities. They grew up somewhere. Some of them are non-Nigerians,” the President stated.
Tinubu announced a significant expansion of military formations.
“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. It is very necessary, and we are doing so,” he stated.
“You will have seen that we are giving a geographical and numerical answer to these challenges,” the President added.
Tinubu linked Nigeria’s internal security pressures to the collapse of order in the Sahel.
“The problem of insecurity in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger Republic is adding more fuel to our challenges. In fact, that is why we must enhance the capacity of the forest guards as well as create the state police,” he stated.
The President reaffirmed his support for state police, addressing directly the concern that has dominated the debate.
“We have equally embarked upon what was missing for several decades because of fears and uncertainty about what to do about security at the local level. There will be state police, and that state police will have guardrails against abuse,” Tinubu stated.
“We will protect it from abuse, and you traditional rulers too will have a role to play,” he told the monarchs, indicating that traditional institutions would be given a role in grassroots security because of their knowledge of their communities and the people living within them.
On the forest guards, the President was blunt about the change of mandate.
“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 stated.
Tinubu placed intelligence gathering at the centre of the strategy and asked the traditional rulers to carry the message to their people.
“It is very important, and 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,” he stated.
“As we emphasise the question of security, each event teaches us new methods. It opens our eyes and challenges us to examine and re-examine our architecture, our strategy, our map and our operations,” the President said.
In a pointed passage addressed to state governors through one of the traditional rulers who had himself governed, Tinubu criticised what he characterised as misdirected capital spending.
“And you have governed before. As a governor, you need to help us communicate to these governors. Today, the cost of operations is high. But the money that I’m pushing to the states, if you had it during your own time or during my time, it would have been different,” the President stated.
“They are taking four to five times the money they were taking in the past. Nobody is borrowing money to pay salaries now. Pensioners are receiving their pay and gratuity,” he stated.
“And they should do more: instead of flyovers where there’s no traffic, build roads and arterial networks to really enhance the quality of life and accessibility of the security agencies to penetrate those areas,” Tinubu stated.
The remark connects the two themes of the address: that infrastructure choices at state level are themselves security decisions, because roads determine whether security agencies can reach communities under attack.
Acknowledging the scale of the challenge, the President accepted responsibility without qualification.
“The immediate challenge is monumental. It is not an easy job, but I asked for the job and I got it. You gave me the support, and I have to do it. I accept the assets and liabilities of that mandate,” Tinubu stated.
He nonetheless offered an assessment of progress: “I can tell you the security challenge is getting better. We are getting a much better handle on it.”
He urged Nigerians to acknowledge those doing the work: “Any time you come across some of our soldiers and police officers, please pat them on the back and say thank you. They are doing a good job. It is a big challenge.”
Tinubu promised to extend the format of the meeting nationwide.
“I will be calling meetings of many of our traditional leaders to listen to you and receive your suggestions. Throughout the country, I will do that,” he stated.
The President congratulated the people and government of Oyo State on the rescue of the pupils and teachers abducted during the May 15 attack on schools in Oriire Local Government Area, and commended the armed forces and security agencies involved.
The 44 victims were rescued after 56 days in captivity.
Three persons linked to the attack have since been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Federal High Court, Abuja, after pleading guilty to concealing information about the alleged masterminds and belonging to Darul Salam, described as an affiliate of the Ansaru terrorist organisation.
The State Security Service has arraigned five additional suspects on terrorism, kidnapping and murder charges arising from the attack. That case was adjourned to September 24.
The Oyo State Government has intensified its own operations following the arrival of two surveillance aircraft acquired to strengthen intelligence gathering and aerial monitoring across the state.
Governor Seyi Makinde said the aircraft, procured in partnership with the Nigerian Air Force, had already demonstrated their usefulness in responding to security threats including the Oriire abduction, and would immediately become operational to support security agencies, enhance surveillance and improve rapid response across the state.
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