Speaking on Thursday while receiving the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, and other traditional rulers from Oyo State at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Tinubu said the Army expansion was one of the lessons learnt from the 56-day captivity of the victims.
He said the government also rejected the kidnappers’ demands for ransom and the release of detained members of their gang before the victims were rescued.
The President said, ‘We refuse to negotiate for ransom. These criminals wanted us to release from detention members of their criminal gangs that were already arrested. That was one of their conditions, outside of the money they were looking for.
‘And we said no deal. We are not going to negotiate with criminals. They committed murder, and we were ready to finish with their families, members of their own communities. They grew up somewhere.
‘I think we succeeded with your support and prayers. I agree that we should commend the men and women of the armed forces for their excellent performance.
‘On behalf of them, I accept your message, and I will forward the same thing and the same message on.’
Tinubu said the rescue operation succeeded because the military had a good understanding of the forest where the victims were held.
He said the incident forced the government to review its security strategy, leading to the decision to increase the number of Army divisions.
‘As we emphasise the question of security, each event teaches us new methods, opens our eyes, challenges us to examine and re-examine our architecture, our strategy, our map and operations.
‘And you would have seen we’ve given a geographical and numerical answer to the challenges. We refused to pay ransom. We have the geography of the forest.
‘We know what it is, and in answer to it, you’ve seen that from eight divisions, we are now moving to 12 divisions, to shorten the response time, to give that response time the teeth that is needed for us to defeat terrorism and banditry,’ he said.
The President said the Federal Government was also working to improve security at the local level through the creation of state police and the strengthening of forest guards.
‘It is very necessary, and we are doing so. We have equally embarked upon what was missing; several decades of fears 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 from abuses. We will protect it from abuses, and you traditional rulers too will have a role to play more.’
Tinubu blamed the growing security challenge partly on instability in neighbouring Sahel countries.
‘Some of them (terrorists) are non-Nigerians. You see the problem of insecurity in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger Republic is adding more fuel to our challenges.
‘In fact, that is why we must enhance the capacity of the forest guards as well as create the state police.’
He said forest guards would be retrained to play a bigger role in tackling insecurity.
‘We are equally enhancing the capacity and capability of the forest guards. They are not just to chase antelopes and animals. We are going to have them chase the criminals and deal with them in various forests,’ he noted.
The President also urged traditional rulers to encourage residents to provide useful information to security agencies.
‘The mention of intelligence is very important, and I want you to take it to our people, to be extra vigilant, to look at things critically, know their neighbourhoods, know their areas, report strange people,’ he said.
Tinubu also called on state governments to use increased federal allocations to improve road networks, saying better roads would make it easier for security agencies to reach remote communities.
‘The economy of operation is high. But the money that I’m pushing to the states, if you had it during your own time, or during my time, it would have been different.
‘They are taking four to five times their money. Nobody is borrowing money to pay salaries now. Pensioners are receiving their pay.
‘They should do more; instead of flying over where there is no numerical traffic, build roads and artery networks to really enhance the quality of life and the accessibility of the security agencies to penetrate those areas,’ he said.
The President said he would continue consulting traditional rulers across the country on security issues.
‘I will be calling meetings of so many of you traditional leaders to listen to you and offer some suggestions throughout the country. I’ll find time to listen to them.
‘The immediate challenge is monumental. It’s not an easy job, but I asked for the job, and I got it. You gave me the support, and I got to do it.
‘I accept the assets and liabilities of my predecessor, so that’s the challenge of today,’ he said.
He added, ‘I’m glad you are here. I congratulate you on the peace and stability of the region and the state.
‘The security challenge is getting better. We are getting the hang of it much better.
‘Any time you come across some of our soldiers and police officers, please pat them on the back and say thank you. They are doing a good job.’
Earlier, Oba Ladoja said the delegation visited the President to thank him and the Armed Forces for rescuing the Oriire schoolchildren and teachers.
He said, ‘We are here to thank you, Mr President, over the recent release of Oriire kidnapped victims from captivity.
‘This is why we believe that the efforts of both President Tinubu and all stakeholders are commendable.’
Ladoja also thanked the Federal Government for ongoing road projects linking Oyo State with neighbouring states, saying the projects would improve movement and open up more communities.
The Oriire abduction took place on May 15, 2026, when gunmen attacked Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School in Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area. About 39 pupils and seven teachers were abducted, while mathematics teacher Michael Oyedokun was killed during the attack.
The victims regained their freedom on July 10, 2026, after spending 56 days in captivity. Eight suspected kidnappers were arrested, while others were neutralised in what the Presidency described as an intelligence-led operation carried out without the payment of ransom.