Insecurity: We won’t pay ransom to terrorists — Tinubu

By Taiwo Scholastica

President Bola Tinubu has reiterated that his administration will not pay ransom to terrorists and kidnappers, saying the Federal Government is adopting new strategies to tackle insecurity across the country.

Tinubu made the statement on Thursday when he received the Olubadan of Ibadanland and members of the Olubadan-in-Council at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The President commended the Nigerian Armed Forces for the successful rescue operation in Oyo State, noting that the development demonstrated the importance of continued support for the country’s security agencies.

He said the security situation in the country had continued to push the government to reassess its strategies, operations, and overall security structure.

According to him, every security incident presents an opportunity for the government to identify weaknesses and develop better approaches to dealing with emerging threats.

Tinubu said his administration has adopted a new approach to tackling terrorism and kidnapping, one that relies on strategic military operations rather than ransom payments.

“And as you have seen, we will give them a geographical and numerical answer to these challenges. We refuse to pay ransom; we have the geography of the forest, we know what it holds, and we have an answer to it,” the President said.

The President also disclosed that the Nigerian Army is undergoing expansion, with the number of divisions expected to rise from eight to 12.

He said the move is aimed at reducing response time and strengthening the military’s capacity to confront terrorists and other criminal elements.

Tinubu further announced plans to establish state police as part of efforts to address security challenges at the local level.

He said the proposed state police system will be designed with safeguards to prevent abuse while allowing security personnel to respond more effectively to threats within their communities.

The President also called on traditional rulers to become more involved in supporting security efforts in their respective domains.

He disclosed that the capacity of forest guards is being enhanced to enable them to assist security agencies in tackling criminals who use forests as hideouts.

Tinubu stressed that the government will continue to strengthen security measures and work with traditional institutions to improve the safety of Nigerians across the country.