President says Nigeria will not negotiate with terrorists, announces state police and expansion of Army divisions to strengthen security

President Bola Tinubu has declared that the Federal Government will not pay ransom to terrorists or kidnappers, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to defeating criminal groups through stronger security operations, expanded military capacity and the planned establishment of state police.

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The President made the remarks on Thursday while receiving the Olubadan of Ibadanland and members of the Olubadan-in-Council at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where he also commended the armed forces for what he described as a successful rescue operation in Oyo State.

Speaking on the country’s security challenges, Tinubu said every incident had provided valuable lessons that were helping the government refine its security architecture and operational strategy.

“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,” the President said.

Tinubu noted that the evolving nature of insecurity had compelled the government to continually reassess its response mechanisms in order to stay ahead of criminal elements.

“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.

Reiterating his administration’s position against negotiating with terrorists, the President said ransom payments would not form part of the government’s strategy in combating kidnapping and terrorism.

“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,” Tinubu stated.

As part of efforts to strengthen the country’s security framework, the President disclosed that the Nigerian Army was being expanded from eight divisions to 12 divisions to improve operational efficiency and reduce response times during security emergencies.

“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,” he said.

One of the most significant announcements during the meeting was Tinubu’s confirmation that the Federal Government would establish state police, a proposal that has generated national debate for years over its potential benefits and risks.

The President acknowledged long-standing concerns about possible abuse of state-controlled policing but assured Nigerians that adequate safeguards would be put in place.

“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.

Successive administrations have considered state policing as part of broader security reforms, with proponents arguing that decentralised policing would improve intelligence gathering and local response, while critics have warned about the possibility of political interference.

Tinubu also called on traditional rulers to deepen their collaboration with security agencies, describing them as critical partners in protecting communities and improving local intelligence.

He revealed that the government was strengthening the capacity of forest guards to pursue armed groups operating from forests across the country.

“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,” the President said.

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The latest measures form part of the Tinubu administration’s broader security strategy aimed at curbing terrorism, banditry and kidnapping, while addressing long-standing concerns over response times and law enforcement presence in rural communities.