President Bola Tinubu on Thursday met with traditional rulers from Oyo state led by the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja at the Presidential Villa.

The President, who told the traditional rulers that he increased the army divisions in the country from eight to twelve in order to improve the nation’s security, equally said the establishment of state police would ensure safety a Ross the country.

Tinubu also charged the traditional rulers to prevail on their governors to prioritize road construction instead of building bridges in places with low traffic.

The President also urged them to avail the security agencies in their domains with requisite intelligence in other to tackle insecurity.

The Olubadan who spoke on behalf of the traditional rulers pleaded with the President to maintain security presence in the Old Oyo Park to farstall the regrouping of kidnappers and bandits.

He thanked the President for ensuring the release of the 46 teachers and school pulpils abducted by kidnappers in Oriire Local Government of the state some weeks ago.

He particularly lauded the President and the security agencies for securing the abducted persons without paying ransom or yeilding to their conditions.

Speaking about tackling insecurity, Tinubu said: “We know what it is, and in answer to it, you’ve seen that from eight divisions. Now we are now moving to 12 divisions to shorten the response time to give that response time the teeth that is needed for us to defeat terrorism and banditry.

“It is very necessary, and we are doing so. We have equally embarked upon what was missing, several decades of fears and uncertainty about what to do about security at the local level will be corrected. There will be state police, and that state police will have guard rail from abuses. We will protect it from abuses, and you traditional rulers too will have role to play more.”

He continued: “thank you for mentioning the question of the forest. We are equally enhancing the capacity and capability of the forest guards. 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. It is very important to let you know that the mention of intelligence is very important, and I want you to take it to our people to be extra vigilant to look at things critically, know their neighbourhoods, know their areas, report strange people.

“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’re 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.

“Some of them that are non-Nigerians, you know, you see the problem of insecurity in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger Republic, is adding more fuel to our challenges. In fact, that is why we must enhance the capacity of the forest guards as well as create the state police. And you have governed before as the governor.”

On the need for the governors to prioritize road projects, he said: “You need to help us communicate to these governors. Today, the economy of operation is high. They are taking four to five times their money. Nobody is borrowing money to pay salaries now. Pensioners are receiving their pay, and they should do more; instead of fly over where there is no numeric traffic, build roads and arteries network to really enhance the quality of life and the accessibility of the security agencies to penetrate those areas.”

The President promised to be calling meetings of traditional rulers regularly to listen to their suggestions on how best to tackle insecurity.

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