President Bola Tinubu has clarified why the government chose not to negotiate with the criminals who abducted students and teachers in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. Meeting with traditional leaders in Abuja, led by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, the President noted that the success of the rescue mission was largely due to intimate knowledge of the local terrain by security forces.
The President praised the military for their efforts, emphasizing that no ransom was paid to secure the release of the hostages. He stated that the government remains firm in its policy against rewarding criminal groups. By utilizing local knowledge of the forest geography, security forces were able to carry out the operation effectively.
To bolster national security, the President announced plans to increase the number of military divisions from eight to 12. This expansion aims to minimize reaction times against threats. Additionally, Tinubu reiterated his support for the creation of state police forces, promising that strict measures will be implemented to prevent potential abuse of power. Furthermore, the government is working to modernize forest guards, transforming their roles from wildlife monitoring to actively tracking and neutralizing criminal elements hiding in remote areas.
This rescue follows a tense 56-day period that began on May 15 when gunmen seized 39 pupils and seven teachers. While the majority were freed, tragically, one teacher, Michael Oyedokun, lost his life while being held captive.
