President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has explained why his government refused to negotiate or pay ransom to the militants who kidnapped schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire, Oyo State, last May.

Speaking to traditional rulers in Oyo State, the President said the decision was deliberate. He emphasised that the rescue operation, which ended successfully after 56 days with no ransom paid, was made possible by intelligence-driven military operations.

Tinubu credited the armed forces for their efforts in bringing the children and teachers home safely. He used the occasion to announce an expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight divisions to twelve, a move aimed at improving response times and tackling terrorism and banditry more effectively.

The President also made several other proposals during the meeting:

• He urged the retraining of forest guards to serve as security assets.
• He advocated for the creation of state police, while stressing the need for safeguards to prevent abuse of power.
• He called on traditional rulers to boost local intelligence gathering.
• He highlighted the importance of investing in road infrastructure to improve access for security agencies.

Tinubu noted that regional security issues affect local communities and engaged community leaders to encourage cooperation in intelligence efforts. He committed to continued consultations with traditional leaders as part of efforts to address security challenges across the country.