President Bola Tinubu has said the Federal Government neither paid ransom nor negotiated with bandits to secure the release of abducted schoolchildren and teachers from Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

Speaking during a meeting with the rescued victims at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday, Tinubu said his administration remained committed to a policy of refusing ransom payments or negotiations with kidnappers, insisting that doing so would only embolden criminal groups.

The President said the successful rescue followed a sustained intelligence-led operation involving the military, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies.

He praised the security operatives for rescuing the victims after 56 days in captivity without making concessions to the abductors. Tinubu disclosed that eight suspected kidnappers were arrested during the operation, while several others were neutralised. He also noted that a wanted terrorist kingpin whose release had been demanded by the abductors remains in custody and is being prosecuted.

Tinubu reiterated that his administration would continue to deploy lawful and intelligence-driven measures to combat kidnapping and terrorism across the country.

According to Channels TV, he also directed relevant emergency response agencies to work with the Oyo State Government to provide medical care, trauma counselling and other relief support for the rescued pupils and teachers.

The schoolchildren and teachers were abducted on May 15, 2026, after armed assailants attacked three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. They regained their freedom on July 10 following a coordinated security operation.