President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has revealed that the Federal Government rejected demands for ransom and the release of detained gang members during negotiations with kidnappers who abducted pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State earlier this year.
Speaking on Thursday while receiving a delegation of traditional rulers from Oyo State, led by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Rashidi Ladoja, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Tinubu said the hostages were eventually rescued through a carefully coordinated military operation driven by intelligence gathering rather than ransom payments.
According to the President, the kidnappers had insisted on receiving money and securing the freedom of some of their imprisoned members. However, the government maintained its stance against negotiating on those terms, opting instead for a security-led intervention that secured the victims’ release after 56 days in captivity.
Tinubu said the incident underscored the need to strengthen the country’s security architecture, noting that his administration has directed the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions. He explained that the move is intended to improve the military’s operational capacity, reduce response times, and enhance its presence across vulnerable regions to combat terrorism and banditry more effectively.
The President also disclosed plans to retrain and equip forest guards to serve as frontline security personnel, while reiterating his support for the establishment of state police, provided adequate measures are put in place to prevent abuse of the system.
He urged traditional institutions and local communities to work closely with security agencies by providing timely intelligence that could help prevent attacks. Tinubu also commended the armed forces for their role in the successful rescue operation and encouraged state governments to channel federal allocations into improving road infrastructure to enhance security operations and emergency response.
The Oriire school attack occurred on May 15, 2026, when armed assailants stormed a school community and abducted about 39 pupils alongside seven teachers. A teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was killed during the attack.
The Presidency said the victims regained their freedom on July 10 following the military operation, which also resulted in the arrest of eight suspects and the neutralisation of several members of the criminal gang.
