Amid ongoing efforts to tackle terrorism, banditry and kidnapping across the country, President Bola Tinubu has reiterated his administration’s resolve not to pay ransoms to bandits, saying the government is instead strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture to confront the growing threats.
The President maintained that paying ransoms is not an option for his administration, insisting that ongoing reforms and investments in the nation’s security apparatus will provide a more effective and lasting response to terrorism and banditry.
Tinubu stated this while receiving a delegation of traditional rulers from Oyo State, led by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, during a courtesy visit to the State House in Abuja on Thursday.
The delegation included the Aare Ago of Ogbomoso, the Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland, the Balogun of Ibadanland, the Onigbeti of Igbeti, the Alajawa of Ajawa and the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, among other traditional rulers.
Explaining the government’s approach to security, Tinubu said every security incident has provided valuable lessons that have shaped the country’s response to emerging threats.
“Each event teaches us new methods, opens our eyes, challenges us to examine and re-examine our architecture, our strength, strategy, our map and operations,” the President said.
He stressed that the government would not negotiate with or pay ransoms to kidnappers and bandits, noting that security agencies have a better understanding of the country’s forests and criminal hideouts.
“Each event teaches us new methods, opens our eyes, challenges us to examine our architecture, our strength, strategy, our map and operations. You would have seen we have given a geographical and numerical answer to the challenges and we refuse to pay ransom, we have the Geography of the forest. We know what it it and in answer to it,” he said.
Tinubu disclosed that the military is expanding its operational structure to improve response times, revealing that the number of divisions is being increased from eight to 12.
“You see that from eight divisions now, we are moving to 12 divisions to shorten the response time, to give that response time that is needed for us to defeat terrorism and banditry,” he said.
The President also reaffirmed his support for the establishment of state police, saying the initiative would address longstanding security gaps at the grassroots while incorporating safeguards to prevent abuse.
According to him, traditional rulers will also be assigned greater responsibilities in supporting community policing and local security efforts.
“Several decades of fear and uncertainty about what to do about security at the local level will be corrected. There will be state police, and that state police will have guardrails against abuse. You traditional rulers too will have a role to play more,” he said.
On securing Nigeria’s forests, Tinubu said the Federal Government is enhancing the capacity and capability of forest guards to pursue criminal elements operating in forested areas.
“Thank you for mentioning the question of the forest. We are enhancing the capacity, the capability of the forest guards. They are not just to chase animals and antelope; they are going to chase the criminals in various forests,” the President added.