You’ve made a turning point on kidnapping in Nigeria, Olubadan lauds Tinubu

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, has lauded President Bola Tinubu over his administration’s handling of kidnapping in the country, saying the President has made “a turning point in the fight against the crime”.

Ladoja stated this on Thursday during a courtesy visit to Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he sought sustained Federal Government support to consolidate security gains in Oyo State following the recent kidnapping of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of the state.

In now-trending video and pictures taken from the Villa, the meeting, which centred on the security situation in Oyo State and measures to prevent a resurgence of kidnapping, was held without the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Hakeem Owoade, in attendance.

Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers, Ladoja commended Tinubu for refusing to negotiate with kidnappers through ransom payments, saying the administration’s firm stance had restored confidence in the government’s ability to tackle insecurity.

He said, “We wish you well, Mr President; we (Council of Oyo Obas) feel it is important to come and say thank you to you. When we had the problem of the kidnapping, this was the first major one in Oyo State, we were apprehensive, we said what was the Federal Government and Oyo State Government doing?

“But we have now seen that, working with your security forces, you have made a turning point on the issue of kidnapping in Nigeria. Your decision not to pay ransom and to stand firm shows that we have a government that knows what it is doing.

“We cannot thank you enough for the feat. It was a big feat because the people of Oyo State almost thought the situation was going to be another Chibok. And whether it will be a perennial issue. Let me also advise that you should not please abandon the forest. You have been able to send the kidnappers away. Let us have the presence of security agencies there. It is a forest that extends to Niger State. It is meant to be a reserve. If we are able to secure the place, it means that Oyo State is secured.”

Ladoja urged the President to sustain military and other security operations in the forest corridor linking Oyo and Niger states, saying continuous surveillance of the reserve was critical to preventing criminal groups from returning.

The monarch’s commendation comes days after Tinubu disclosed how security agencies secured the release of the abducted pupils and teachers without paying ransom to their captors.

According to the President, the Federal Government rejected calls to negotiate with the kidnappers, insisting that paying ransom would embolden criminal gangs and encourage further abductions.

Tinubu revealed that instead of yielding to the kidnappers’ demands, security agencies adopted intelligence-led operations by tracking the abductors’ network and arresting members of their families and support system to increase pressure on the terrorists.

The President said the strategy paid off, as the kidnappers eventually released the victims without receiving any ransom, describing the operation as a major breakthrough in the fight against kidnapping and terrorism.

The victims regained their freedom in July after spending about 56 days in captivity following coordinated operations by the military, intelligence agencies and the police. Eight suspects were arrested while several others were killed during the rescue mission.