Why Refusing to Pay Ransom Helped Secure Oriire’s Rescue — Sunday Igboho

Yoruba nation activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has said the Federal Government declined the terrorists’ demand for ransom for the release of the kidnapped victims in order to discourage criminal activities in Nigeria.

Igboho, in a statement issued by his media aide, said the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu maintained that paying ransom for the release of abductees would embolden criminals and further fund the operations of bandits across the country.

He also commended the military for deploying what he described as “highly wired, diplomacy- and intelligence-driven tactics” that secured the freedom of the abducted victims in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

“I want to commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the military, the Police, the Department of State Services (DSS) and other paramilitary agencies for their painstaking efforts, which resulted in the freedom of the pupils and their teachers.

“This development has not only brought relief and joy to their distraught families, but has also rekindled the hope of Nigerians in the commitment of the Federal Government to tackle criminality and ensure a safe and secure environment. 

“It is also crucial to commend the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the heads of all security agencies for their seamless collaboration, which culminated in the release of the pupils and their teachers,” Igboho said.

The statement further read: “Since the day the pupils were abducted, President Tinubu has spared no effort to ensure their release. I want to state emphatically that the government’s resolve to dismantle criminal networks in Oke-Ogun, Oyo State, and across Nigeria is not in doubt.

“The Federal Government’s current synergy with local security organisations to confront criminals in communities will continue unabated, as we remain fully committed to exploring all legal means of creating a conducive environment for farmers and residents of rural communities in the South-West.”

He, however, commiserated with the families who lost their loved ones during the Oriire abduction, especially a teacher, Michael Oyedokun, who was beheaded by the terrorists.