No Ransom, No Negotiation: President Reveals Intelligence Behind Oriire School Rescue

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has publicly revealed the intelligence-driven strategy behind the successful rescue of 46 schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, confirming that security forces tracked and arrested the families of the kidnappers to pressure the terrorists into releasing their captives—without paying ransom or negotiating with criminals. The President made the disclosure on Thursday while receiving a delegation of traditional rulers from Oyo State, led by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The visit was a thank-you mission to appreciate the Federal Government and the Armed Forces for securing the release of the victims after they spent 56 days in captivity.

Speaking publicly for the first time since the victims were rescued on July 10, Tinubu said the kidnappers presented two conditions for the release of the hostages: a demand for money and the release of detained members of their criminal gang who were already in custody. The Federal Government rejected both demands outright. “We refuse to negotiate for ransom. These criminals wanted us to release from detention members of their criminal gangs that were already arrested. That was one of their conditions, outside of the money they were looking for. And we said no deal. We are not going to negotiate with criminals. They committed murder, and we were ready to finish with their families, members of their own communities. They grew up somewhere,” the President stated. He emphasised that the government’s refusal to negotiate was aided by the military’s detailed knowledge of the forest terrain where the kidnappers were holed up. “We refused to pay ransom. We have the geography of the forest. We know what it is, and in answer to it, you’ve seen that from eight divisions, we are now moving to 12 divisions, to shorten the response time and give that response time the teeth needed to defeat terrorism and banditry,” he said.

According to security sources, the operation was driven by intelligence that led operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) to track down and arrest several wives and children of the suspected kidnappers across different communities and cities nationwide. The family members were subsequently moved to Abuja, where they were interrogated in accordance with investigative procedures. Investigators believe the arrest of the terrorists’ family members reduced the likelihood that the abductors would harm the hostages, fearing possible consequences for their own relatives. Security sources further disclosed that video recordings of the interrogations were somehow leaked to the kidnappers, a development that reportedly unsettled the terrorists and made them more responsive to negotiations. “The kidnappers suddenly became more responsive. They abandoned their earlier hardline position and started making frequent contact instead of disappearing after making demands,” one source said. The terrorists thereafter proposed releasing the abducted schoolchildren and teachers in exchange for the freedom of their wives and guarantees of safe passage. However, security agencies rejected the proposal, insisting that the captives must first be released unconditionally. A source familiar with the operation disclosed that the final order to storm the camp was issued on Thursday night after fresh intelligence confirmed that the abducted schoolchildren and teachers were no longer being used as human shields. The assault was swift, well coordinated, and backed by overwhelming firepower, catching the terrorists off guard. During the operation, scores of terrorists were killed, while eight others were arrested.

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In a related development, the Department of State Services has arraigned five men accused of complicity in the May 15 kidnapping and the subsequent killing of two victims. The five alleged members of the Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (Ansaru) terrorist group were identified as Mahmud Muhammad (aka Abu Bara’a, Abbas Mukhtar); Abubakar Abbas (aka Isah Adam, Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri); Abdulrazak Umar (aka Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid); Yunusa Musa (aka Abu Yunusa Bin Musa); and Shamsu Adamu Sani (aka Abu Itisar). In count one of the charge, Muhammad and Abbas were accused of ordering their foot soldiers within Ansaru, including Umar, Musa and Sani, to kidnap and kill people across the country in the event of their arrest, in order to compel the government to accede to their demands. In count two, the DSS alleged that the May 15 kidnapping of pupils and teachers in Oriire and the killing of two of the victims were carried out in furtherance of that order. The five pleaded not guilty when each count on the charge sheet was read to them. Justice Salim Ibrahim granted the prosecution’s request to remand the defendants in DSS custody, ordering that they be given unhindered access to their lawyers and two members of their immediate families, and that they be accorded adequate medical attention. The case was adjourned till September 25 for the commencement of trial.

President Tinubu revealed that the lessons learned from the Oriire abduction prompted a review of the country’s security architecture, leading to his directive to expand the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions. The expansion, which also includes the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel, aims to shorten response time, decentralise operational decision-making, and strengthen border security and counter-insurgency operations. Under the new structure, the Army will operate 12 divisions strategically located across the country, with new divisions established in Makurdi (Benue State), Ilorin (Kwara State), Jalingo (Taraba State), and Benin City (Edo State). The implementation will be carried out in two phases, with the first phase expected to be completed by September 2026 and the second phase by December 2026. The President also announced plans to establish state police with safeguards against abuse and to enhance the capacity of forest guards to combat criminal elements operating in forests. “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,” Tinubu said.

Oba Ladoja, speaking on behalf of the delegation, said the traditional rulers had confidence in the capability of Nigerian security agencies but remained apprehensive about the victims’ safe return. He expressed gratitude to the President and all stakeholders for their efforts in securing the rescue. The Olubadan also used the occasion to thank the Tinubu administration for ongoing and proposed federal road projects aimed at improving connectivity across Oyo State, including the dualisation of the Ibadan-Ijebu Ode Road, Ogbomoso-Ilorin Road, and the Badagry-Sokoto Highway passing through the Ibarapa and Oke-Ogun axis of the state.

The Oriire school attack occurred on May 15, 2026, when gunmen stormed three schools—Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School—in Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area, abducting about 39 pupils and seven teachers. A mathematics teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was beheaded during the attack, and another teacher, Deacon John Olaleye, was later killed in captivity. The victims regained their freedom on July 10 after spending 56 days in captivity in an intelligence-led operation that resulted in the arrest of eight suspected kidnappers without the payment of ransom.

No Ransom, No Negotiation: President Reveals Intelligence Behind Oriire School Rescue

IGP Redeploys Osun CP to Force Headquarters Ahead of August 15 Governorship Election

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has ordered the immediate redeployment of Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, to the Force Headquarters in Abuja, less than three weeks before the state’s August 15 governorship election. The directive, contained in a police wireless signal marked “Most Immediate” and dated July 30, 2026, was circulated to police commands and specialised units nationwide for immediate compliance. The internal police communication stated that Gotan had been posted to the Commissioner of Police, Communications Operations, Force Headquarters, Abuja, on special duty. The signal read: “INGENPOL HAS ORDERED THE POSTING OF COMPOL IBRAHIM GOTAN TO CP COMM OPS FHQ ABUJA ON SPECIAL DUTY W.E.F. X TREAT AS VERY IMPORTANT PLEASE”. The directive was sent to the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Department of Operations, Department of Information and Communication Technology, Assistant Inspectors-General of Police in the various zones, Commissioners of Police nationwide, and other specialised formations for immediate compliance. The development comes amid mounting political tension and security concerns ahead of the governorship election in Osun State, where Governor Ademola Adeleke and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) have traded accusations over the security situation. Governor Adeleke and his allies had repeatedly called for Gotan’s removal, accusing the police command of partisanship and failing to address rising political violence.

Reacting to the commissioner’s redeployment, Governor Adeleke’s Special Assistant on Digital Media, Oni Gbenga Lawrence, hailed the decision, describing it as a response to public demands. In a post on X, Lawrence wrote: “The Commissioner of Police in Osun State has been removed. We thank the Inspector General of Police for listening to the voice of the people. The will of the people cannot be denied. Congratulations to the good people of Osun State”. The spokesperson for the Adeleke Campaign Organisation, Pelumi Olajengbesi, also welcomed the development. The redeployment followed Governor Adeleke’s remarks at a Peace Summit on Thursday, where he alleged that there was an “active progression towards genocide” in Osun ahead of the governorship poll. The governor accused the APC and some police personnel of orchestrating violence, intimidation, and politically motivated arrests against members of his party, claiming that the state had been under sustained political tension for the past three months. He warned that the situation could deteriorate further if urgent measures were not taken to guarantee a peaceful and credible election.

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The redeployment comes after months of mounting pressure from political stakeholders who had accused Gotan of partisanship and failure to address rising political violence in the state. The Accord Party had petitioned President Bola Tinubu and the Inspector-General of Police, alleging that about 100 of its leaders, candidates, members, and supporters had been arrested and detained across the state, with some allegedly transferred to Abuja. The party claimed that the police actions were “politically motivated, to frustrate, weaken and dampen” its campaign efforts in Osun State. Accord’s National Chairman, Maxwell Mgbudem, lamented that campaigning for the August 15 poll had become increasingly difficult, alleging that arrests, intimidation, and police actions were replacing the level playing field expected in a democratic contest. The party also cited what it described as the police invasion of the residences of six commissioners and the Secretary to the State Government, Teslim Igbalaye, whose home was reportedly raided over allegations of vote-buying and harbouring a wanted suspect. The African Action Congress (AAC) had also called for Gotan’s immediate redeployment in July 2026, alleging that the police command had lost the confidence of many residents and that there were plans to destabilise Osun State before the governorship election. The AAC claimed that the state had witnessed an increase in political violence despite the recent visit of IGP Disu, describing the security situation as increasingly volatile.

The tension surrounding Gotan’s leadership was dramatically illustrated at a stakeholders’ meeting on preparations for the August 15 governorship election, where participants openly rejected the Commissioner of Police during his address. The meeting, held in Osogbo, brought together officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, political parties, civil society organisations, and other election stakeholders. Many participants booed him, shouting derogatory remarks and chanting “Redeploy him! Redeploy him!” while accusing him of failing to discharge his responsibilities impartially. Some of the aggrieved stakeholders alleged that the police boss had displayed what they described as a lukewarm attitude towards cases of alleged killings, assaults, intimidation, and victimisation of residents in different parts of the state. They further accused him of being a biased security officer whose actions had eroded public confidence in the command’s ability to provide equal protection for all political interests.

The redeployment of Gotan is part of a broader shake-up within the Nigeria Police Force. The IGP had earlier approved a major reshuffle involving senior officers, ordering the immediate redeployment of nine Assistant Inspectors-General of Police to strategic commands and formations across the country. The directive, conveyed through a police wireless signal, was addressed to all major police departments, zonal commands, state commands, specialised formations, and training institutions across the country for immediate implementation. Among those affected in the reshuffle were AIG Polycarp Emeka Nwonyi, posted to Zone 9 Command, Umuahia; AIG Obono Nnaghe Itam, redeployed as Commandant, Police Staff College, Jos; and AIG Bassey Samuel Ewa, posted to Zone 15 Command, Maiduguri. Others included AIG Osagie John Agans-Irabor to Zone 3 Command, Yola; AIG Monday Agbonika to Zone 5 Command, Benin; and AIG Daniel Edobor Iyamah as IG, Department of Operations (DOPS), Force Headquarters, Abuja. The Force Headquarters directed all relevant departments responsible for computer records, establishment, and personnel documentation to update official records in line with the new postings.

Meanwhile, hundreds of women from across Osun State staged a peaceful procession to the event venue of the stakeholders’ meeting, calling on political actors, security agencies, and residents to embrace peace before, during, and after the election. Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Vote, Not Violence”, “Peace is Our Priority”, “No to Political Bloodshed”, and “Our Votes Must Count,” the women appealed to politicians to conduct their campaigns with civility and avoid inflammatory rhetoric capable of provoking unrest. Speaking on behalf of the protesters, the group’s spokesperson, Mrs. Ogunsuada Omoriyeba, said the women were deeply concerned by the rising political tension in the state and insisted that no political ambition was worth the loss of human lives. “We are mothers, wives and daughters, and we have come together to speak with one voice. We reject violence, intimidation, hate speech and every form of acrimony associated with elections. Osun belongs to all of us, and we want an election that will be remembered for peace, not bloodshed,” she said. As of the time of filing this report, the Nigeria Police Force had not issued an official statement explaining the reason for Gotan’s redeployment or announced his replacement.

IGP Redeploys Osun CP to Force Headquarters Ahead of August 15 Governorship Election

Grand Chief Imam warns Bennylee against religious provocation, urges respect for judicial process

The Grand Chief Imam of Oyo Land, Fadilat Sheikh (Barrister) Bilal Husayn Akinola Akeugberu, has cautioned social media influencer and blogger, Ifagbemiro Olamigoke Adewola, popularly known as Bennylee, against actions and public statements that could provoke religious tension, promote hatred or threaten peaceful coexistence among people of different faiths.

The warning followed ongoing criminal proceedings involving the social media personality before a Magistrate Court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State.

In a press statement issued on Wednesday by the Director of Media and Publicity to the Grand Chief Imam, Mallam Ibrahim Agunbiade, the Islamic leader said the matter had been adjourned until August 6, 2026.

The case reportedly arose from a direct criminal complaint involving allegations of incitement, insulting or inciting contempt of a religious creed, defiling a place of worship or an object of religious significance, and injurious falsehood.

The complaint was also said to be connected to an alleged incident involving the placement of traditional sacrificial items, including a calabash containing boiled eggs and palm oil, on the Holy Qur’an.

The Grand Chief Imam, however, said no pronouncement would be made on the merits of the allegations because the matter was already before a court of competent jurisdiction.

He urged all parties and members of the public to respect the judicial process and allow the court to determine the case without interference, pressure or prejudice.

The Islamic leader expressed concern over what he described as the growing use of social media platforms to ridicule religious beliefs, provoke faith-based sentiments and create tension among citizens.

He said freedom of expression was a constitutional right but should be exercised responsibly and within the limits provided by law.

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According to him, freedom of speech should not be used to promote religious hatred, deliberately offend sacred beliefs or encourage actions capable of disrupting public peace.

The Grand Chief Imam also expressed concern over a video in which Bennylee allegedly criticised the practice and discussion of Shari’ah in Yorubaland.

He said some Muslims considered the statements made in the video to be inflammatory, misleading and hostile towards Islam.

The Islamic leader maintained that Shari’ah was an integral aspect of the Islamic faith and that Muslims had the constitutional right to practise their religion and observe its principles within the framework of Nigerian law.

He added that Shari’ah should not be portrayed as an instrument of forced conversion or religious domination.

The Grand Chief Imam warned against the use of misinformation, fear-mongering and inflammatory language to portray Islam or Shari’ah negatively, saying such actions could deepen suspicion, fuel religious intolerance and undermine the peaceful coexistence for which Yorubaland is widely known.

“As a legal practitioner, I wish to remind all Nigerians that the right to freedom of expression carries corresponding responsibilities,” he said.

He noted that publications or conduct capable of inciting religious hatred, provoking public disorder or violating the rights of others could attract legal consequences where offences were established under applicable laws.

The Grand Chief Imam advised Bennylee to reflect on his public engagements and seek accurate knowledge about Islam through dialogue with recognised Islamic scholars.

He said disagreements over religion should be addressed through respectful engagement, mutual understanding and peaceful dialogue rather than hostility or contempt.

The Islamic leader also commended Barrister U.S. Imam and his legal team for pursuing the matter through lawful and constitutional channels.

He said their decision to seek redress through the court demonstrated that grievances arising from alleged religious provocation or desecration should be addressed through legitimate institutions rather than self-help or confrontation.

The Grand Chief Imam urged Muslims across Yorubaland and Nigeria to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding, regardless of the level of provocation.

He warned against taking the law into their own hands and encouraged members of the Muslim community to pursue justice through lawful means.

He also called on religious leaders, traditional rulers, public officials, content creators and social media influencers to exercise restraint and responsibility in their public statements.

According to him, Nigeria’s unity, peace and stability depend on mutual respect among people of different religious beliefs.

The Grand Chief Imam urged Nigerians to embrace dialogue, tolerance and understanding, stressing that people of different faiths should be able to disagree without hatred and engage one another without contempt.

He prayed for continued peace, harmony, justice and religious tolerance across Yorubaland and Nigeria.

Grand Chief Imam warns Bennylee against religious provocation, urges respect for judicial process