Oyo School Abduction: Tinubu Reveals Why FG Rejected Kidnappers’ Ransom, Prisoner Swap Demands

• President Bola Tinubu says the Federal Government rejected ransom and prisoner swap demands made by the kidnappers of the Oriire schoolchildren in Oyo State.

President Bola Tinubu has revealed that the Federal Government refused to negotiate with or pay ransom to the militants who abducted schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, insisting that his administration would not strike deals with criminals.

Speaking 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 disclosed that the kidnappers demanded both a ransom payment and the release of detained members of their gang.

According to the President, the government rejected the demands outright.

“We refuse to negotiate for ransom. These criminals wanted us to release members of their gang already in detention in addition to the money they demanded. We said no deal. We are not going to negotiate with criminals.”

Tinubu described the eventual rescue of the victims after 56 days in captivity as an intelligence-driven operation carried out without paying any ransom.

He commended the armed forces for their role in securing the release of the abducted pupils and teachers, describing their performance as outstanding.

The President also revealed that his recent directive expanding the Nigerian Army from eight to twelve divisions was a direct response to the Oriire school abduction and other security challenges across the country.

According to him, the expansion is designed to shorten military response times and strengthen the country’s ability to combat terrorism and banditry.

Tinubu further announced plans to retrain and re-equip forest guards, saying they would now serve as frontline security personnel rather than focusing solely on wildlife protection.

He reiterated his support for the creation of state police, assuring Nigerians that safeguards would be put in place to prevent abuse.

The President blamed worsening insecurity partly on instability in neighbouring Sahel countries, including Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger Republic, saying foreign terrorists have contributed to Nigeria’s security challenges.

He also urged communities and traditional rulers to strengthen local intelligence by reporting suspicious activities and unfamiliar persons within their neighbourhoods.

Tinubu called on state governments to channel increased federal allocations into road infrastructure, arguing that better roads would improve living conditions while enhancing access for security agencies to remote areas.

The President pledged continued engagement with traditional rulers nationwide as part of efforts to improve security across the country.

The Oriire school abduction, which occurred on May 15, 2026, saw gunmen kidnap about 39 pupils and seven teachers from three schools in Oyo State. Mathematics teacher Michael Oyedokun was killed during the attack.

The victims were rescued on July 10 after an intelligence-led operation that led to the arrest of eight suspected kidnappers and the neutralisation of several others.