Police rule out ransom talks over abducted Oyo School children

Nigeria Police Force has ruled out any form of ransom negotiation for the release of schoolchildren abducted in Oyo State, saying its priority remains the safe rescue of the victims.
The South-West Coordinating Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG), Adegoke Fayoade, disclosed it on Monday during an official working visit to the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters in Ikeja.
Addressing journalists, Fayoade stated that the police do not engage in ransom discussions with kidnappers and are instead concentrating all efforts on securing the freedom of the abducted pupils and their teachers.
“The police do not engage in ransom discussions,” he said.
According to him, the force is focused solely on ensuring the safe return of the victims and would not be drawn into conversations about ransom demands.
“We don’t know anything about ransom because we don’t talk about ransom. All efforts are directed towards getting the abductees freed safely,” Fayoade stated.
The DIG noted that the police hierarchy is continuously reviewing operational strategies, strengthening supervision, and engaging personnel to effectively respond to emerging security challenges across the country.
He stressed that the force remains committed to improving its operational capabilities in order to combat kidnapping and other criminal activities.
Fayoade also assured Nigerians that security agencies and government institutions are working in close collaboration to secure the release of the abducted children and other kidnap victims across the country.
“All agencies, including government, are working very hard, and I can assure you that within the shortest possible time, those children and their teachers will be free,” he said.