President Bola Tinubu has said his administration would not pay ransom to terrorists, insisting that the government would deploy strategic measures to defeat criminal elements across the country.
Tinubu stated on Thursday while receiving the Olubadan of Ibadanland and members of the Olubadan-in-Council at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The President, who commended the armed forces for the successful rescue operation in Oyo State, said security challenges had continued to compel the government to review its strategies and operations.
“Congratulations on the Oyo State’s rescue that succeeded. I think we succeeded with your support and prayers, I agree with you 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, the same message on,” Tinubu said.
The President said every security incident provided lessons for improving the country’s security architecture.
“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,” he said.
Tinubu said the government had adopted a new approach to tackling terrorism and kidnapping, stressing that ransom payments would not be part of its strategy.
“And you will have seen, we will give them a geographical and numerical answer to the challenges. We refuse to pay ransom; we have the geography of the forest, we know what it is, and an answer to it,” the President stated.
He disclosed that the Nigerian Army was being expanded from eight divisions to 12 divisions to improve response time and strengthen the fight against terrorism.
“You’ve seen that from eight divisions now, 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. It is very necessary and we are doing so,” Tinubu said.
The President also announced that the Federal Government would establish state police to address security gaps at the local level.
“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 as state police, we have a guardrail from abuses; we will protect it from abuses,” he said.
Tinubu urged traditional rulers to play a greater role in supporting security efforts, adding that forest guards were being strengthened to tackle criminals hiding in forests.
He said, “And you traditional rulers too, we have a role to play more. 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. It is very important to let you know that.”
