Oyo Abduction: Why I Refused to Negotiate with Bandits and Went After Kidnappers’ Families – Tinubu

By Paul Joseph

President Bola Tinubu has revealed why the Federal Government rejected ransom demands and refused to negotiate with bandits during the rescue of abducted pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, saying his administration was determined not to reward criminality.

The President disclosed this on Thursday while receiving a delegation of Oyo State traditional rulers led by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Tinubu said the abductors demanded a ransom as well as the release of detained members of their gang, but the Federal Government turned down the conditions and instead intensified intelligence-led operations to secure the victims’ freedom.

According to him, security agencies tracked the kidnappers through their communities and families, a strategy that eventually led to the successful rescue of the hostages after 56 days in captivity without paying any ransom.

“We refused to negotiate for ransom. These criminals wanted us to release members of their criminal gangs already in detention in addition to demanding money, but we said no deal. We are not going to negotiate with criminals,” Tinubu said.

He added that the government was prepared to pursue every available intelligence lead to dismantle the criminal network responsible for the abduction.

The President commended the Armed Forces and other security agencies for the successful operation, describing the rescue as proof of improved intelligence gathering, coordination and operational effectiveness.

Tinubu explained that the Oriire school abduction exposed gaps in Nigeria’s security architecture and informed his decision to expand the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions to improve response time and operational coverage across the country.

He also reiterated his support for the creation of state police, stressing that the proposed security structure would include safeguards against abuse while giving traditional rulers greater roles in grassroots security.

The President linked Nigeria’s growing security challenges to instability in neighbouring Sahel countries, including Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger Republic, noting that the influx of armed criminal elements from the region has worsened insecurity.

To strengthen internal security, Tinubu announced plans to retrain and re-equip forest guards, transforming them into frontline personnel capable of pursuing criminals operating in forests across the country.

He further appealed to traditional rulers to encourage residents to remain vigilant, monitor their communities and promptly report suspicious activities to security agencies to enhance intelligence gathering.

Tinubu also urged state governments to channel their increased federal allocations into road infrastructure, arguing that improved road networks would not only boost economic development but also enable security agencies to access remote communities more effectively during operations.

The President pledged to hold wider consultations with traditional rulers across Nigeria to strengthen collaboration on security and governance.

Earlier, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, said the delegation visited the Presidential Villa to appreciate Tinubu and the Armed Forces for securing the release of the Oriire abductees and for ongoing federal road projects in Oyo State.

The monarch highlighted key projects, including the proposed dualisation of the Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode Road, Ogbomoso-Ilorin Road and sections of the Badagry-Sokoto Highway passing through Oyo State, saying the projects would improve connectivity and stimulate economic growth.

The Oriire abduction occurred on May 15, 2026, when armed men attacked three schools in Esiele and Yawota communities, abducting about 39 pupils and seven teachers. During the attack, a mathematics teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was killed.

The victims were rescued on July 10 after spending 56 days in captivity. According to the Presidency, the intelligence-driven operation resulted in the arrest of eight suspected kidnappers and the neutralisation of several others without the payment of ransom.