President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed that the Federal Government will not negotiate with terrorists, kidnappers or other violent criminal groups, insisting that Nigeria will neither pay ransom nor release detained criminals in exchange for abducted victims.
The President made the declaration on Thursday while receiving traditional rulers from Oyo State, led by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, at the State House in Abuja.
Speaking on the government’s security policy, Tinubu revealed that kidnappers who abducted schoolchildren and teachers in communities within Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State demanded both ransom payments and the release of their detained gang members. According to him, the government rejected those demands outright.
“We refuse to negotiate with criminals. They wanted us to release members of their criminal gangs already in detention in addition to demanding money, but we said no deal. We will not negotiate with murderers and terrorists,” the President said.
His remarks come as Nigeria continues to battle kidnapping, terrorism and banditry across several parts of the country. Despite successive administrations maintaining a policy against ransom payments, criminal groups have continued to target schools, highways, rural communities and travellers, particularly in the North-West and North-Central regions.
Security experts have repeatedly warned that paying ransom fuels further kidnappings by providing criminal groups with financial resources to acquire weapons and recruit more fighters.
Tinubu commended the Armed Forces and other security agencies for what he described as a successful rescue operation involving the abducted victims in Oyo State. He said every security operation provides valuable lessons that help strengthen the country’s security architecture and improve operational effectiveness.
“I agree with you that we should commend the men and women of the Armed Forces for their excellent performance. Every security operation teaches us new lessons, challenges us to review our security architecture, strategy and operational plans, and strengthens our resolve to defeat terrorism and banditry,” he stated.
The President also disclosed that the Federal Government is expanding the Nigerian Army from eight to twelve divisions to improve operational coverage and reduce response time to security threats nationwide.
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According to him, the expansion is part of broader reforms aimed at addressing terrorism in the North-East, banditry in the North-West, communal violence in the North-Central, separatist violence in parts of the South-East, and the increasing incidence of kidnapping across the country.
Tinubu further reiterated his administration’s support for the establishment of state police, saying the initiative would include constitutional safeguards to prevent abuse. He also announced plans to strengthen the operations of forest guards to flush out criminal elements operating from forests and other ungoverned areas.
“There will be state police, but with guardrails against abuse. Traditional rulers will also have greater roles to play. We are equally enhancing the capacity of forest guards, not to chase animals, but to pursue criminals and deal decisively with them,” he added.
The President said the combined measures form part of the government’s broader strategy to improve national security, strengthen law enforcement institutions and restore public confidence in the country’s ability to combat terrorism, kidnapping and other violent crimes.
