President Bola Tinubu has opened up on the major demands made by terrorists who abducted pupils and teachers from schools in Oriire, Oyo State, on May 15.
President Tinubu, who spoke on Thursday during his meeting with Oba Rashidi Ladoja, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, and the Oyo State Council of Obas at the Presidential Villa, said the assailants wanted the government to release some of their arrested members.
He said the abductors of the Oriire schoolchildren were also demanding ransom, but the government declined.
According to the President, when the terrorists made the demands after establishing contact with the victims’ families, the government said “no deal”, ruling out any possible negotiation with the criminals.
He said, “The terrorists who carried out the abduction of the Oriire schoolchildren and teachers wanted us to release their members who were already arrested. That was one of their conditions, aside from the money they were demanding.
“We said no deal, and we won’t negotiate with criminals. They committed murder by killing one of the teachers, and we were ready to ‘finish’ with members of their families.
“Some of them are non-Nigerians. You see the problem in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger Republic. It’s adding more fuel to our challenges.
“That’s why we must enhance the capacity of the forest guards and create state police.”
DAILY POST reports that the victims were rescued by security operatives on July 10.
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