OYO ABDUCTION: PRESIDENT TINUBU GIVES REASONS FOR TRACKING, ARRESTING KIDNAPPERS’ FAMILIES
Read Time:2 Minute, 14 Second
By:Tajudeen Aminat
President Bola Tinubu has disclosed that the Federal Government rejected ransom demands and refused to negotiate with the kidnappers who abducted pupils and teachers in Oriire, Oyo State, insisting that criminals would not dictate terms to the government.
Speaking on Thursday while receiving the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, and other traditional rulers from Oyo State at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Tinubu said the abductors demanded money and the release of detained gang members, but the government turned down both requests.
The President said the successful rescue of the victims after 56 days in captivity was achieved through an intelligence-driven military operation carried out without paying ransom. He commended the armed forces for their role in securing the victims’ release.
Tinubu explained that the Oriire abduction prompted his decision to expand the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions, describing the move as a strategic response aimed at reducing response times and strengthening the military’s capacity to combat terrorism and banditry.
He said the operation underscored the need to review Nigeria’s security architecture, noting that the government would also retrain and re-equip forest guards to serve as frontline security personnel in tackling criminal activities within forested areas.
The President reaffirmed his support for the creation of state police, stressing that the system would include safeguards to prevent abuse while giving traditional rulers a greater role in community security.
According to him, worsening insecurity in neighbouring Sahel countries, including Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger Republic, has contributed to the influx of armed groups into Nigeria, making stronger local security structures necessary.
Tinubu urged traditional rulers to encourage residents to be more vigilant and actively support intelligence gathering by reporting suspicious individuals and activities in their communities.
He also called on state governments to channel increased federal allocations toward road construction, arguing that improved road networks would not only enhance economic development but also enable security agencies to access remote communities more effectively.
Responding on behalf of the delegation, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, thanked the President and the armed forces for securing the release of the Oriire victims and praised the administration’s efforts to improve security and rehabilitate key federal roads in Oyo State.
The Oriire attack occurred on May 15, 2026, when gunmen stormed three schools in Esiele and Yawota communities, abducting about 39 pupils and seven teachers. Mathematics teacher Michael Oyedokun was killed during the attack. The victims were rescued on July 10 after 56 days in captivity, while eight suspects were arrested and several others were neutralised in what the Presidency described as an intelligence-led operation conducted without the payment of ransom.
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