Tinubu says Nigeria will not pay ransom for Oyo abductees

President Bola Tinubu affirmed on Thursday, July 30, 2026, that his administration refused to pay ransom or release detained criminals to secure the freedom of abducted schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State, crediting a successful rescue operation to sustained military pressure. Tinubu made the remarks while receiving a delegation of traditional rulers from Oyo State, led by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The President detailed that the abductors had demanded both a ransom payment and the release of their arrested associates as conditions for freeing the hostages. He stated the government rejected these demands outright. Tinubu emphasized a firm policy against negotiating with criminal groups, insisting that individuals who have committed serious crimes must face justice. He said security forces instead intensified operations based on intelligence about the terrorists' location.

Tinubu commended the armed forces for their role in the recent rescue and acknowledged the support of traditional rulers. He stated that each security incident, including the Oyo school abduction, provides critical lessons, compelling a continuous...