By Ado Oyeyemi
The Oyo State House of Assembly has ruled out any form of negotiation with bandits responsible for the abduction of teachers and students during a recent attack in Oriire Local Government Area, insisting that security efforts should focus on rescuing the victims and strengthening protection for vulnerable communities.
The lawmakers made the position known on Wednesday while deliberating on a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by the member representing Oriire State Constituency, Johnson Ogundele, following the Assembly’s resumption from the Eid-el-Kabir break.
Presenting the motion, Ogundele drew attention to worsening insecurity in parts of Oriire LGA, particularly the coordinated attack carried out on May 15 in Ahoro-Esiele, Oyo and Yawota communities.
According to him, the assailants struck during school hours, killing a teacher, a student and a commercial motorcyclist before abducting several teachers, pupils and students.
The lawmaker lamented the increasing wave of attacks in the area, noting that residents had been living under constant threat since the beginning of the year.
He recalled an earlier assault on a National Park Service facility in Oloka village, where five forest guards were reportedly killed.
Ogundele commended Governor Seyi Makinde for his prompt intervention, including the deployment of security personnel, ongoing rescue operations and visits to affected communities.
He, however, urged the state government to intensify support for security agencies and facilitate the establishment of a permanent military base in vulnerable areas and forest corridors.
As part of its resolutions, the Assembly directed the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the State Universal Basic Education Board to carry out comprehensive security assessments of schools located near forests and border communities.
Lawmakers also advocated the installation of solar-powered security lighting, perimeter fencing and surveillance cameras in vulnerable schools, alongside the development of a state-wide Safe School Emergency Response Protocol covering both public and private institutions.
The House firmly rejected calls for the state government to negotiate with kidnappers, maintaining that such a move could encourage further criminal activities and embolden armed groups.
Supporting the motion, Majority Leader Sanjo Adedoyin renewed demands for the establishment of state police, arguing that recent security operations highlighted the limitations faced by conventional security agencies in difficult terrains.
He observed that local vigilantes and operatives of the Western Nigeria Security Network, known as Amotekun Corps, played crucial roles in accessing forested areas where criminal elements often operate.
Other lawmakers echoed concerns over insecurity and called for reforms aimed at strengthening local security architecture.
The member representing Ogbomoso North, Olubisi Oluranti, urged authorities to deploy more security personnel to at-risk communities, while Gbenga Oyekola of Atiba Constituency blamed part of the challenge on inadequate security presence within the expansive federal forest reserves spread across Oyo and neighbouring states.
Oyekola also raised concerns over reported mining activities within the forests, alleging that despite frequent reports of helicopter movements in some locations, security measures remained insufficient.
Babajide Gabriel, representing Ibadan North II, called for comprehensive reforms of Nigeria’s security system and urged the state government to recruit more personnel into the Amotekun Corps to boost local intelligence and response capacity.
He also warned against politicising insecurity, stressing that the challenge requires collective action from all stakeholders.
Similarly, Dawood Olalere of Ibadan North-West observed that kidnapping had extended beyond remote forests and was increasingly affecting urban and semi-urban communities.
He called for improved equipment and weaponry for Amotekun operatives to enhance their effectiveness against heavily armed criminal gangs.
The Assembly subsequently urged the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Defence and relevant security agencies, to establish a permanent military formation in Oriire Local Government Area.
Lawmakers further appealed to the Oyo State Emergency Management Agency to provide relief materials, psychosocial support and trauma counselling for affected families.
They also encouraged traditional rulers, community leaders and local authorities to strengthen intelligence gathering and community-based security initiatives.
In addition, the House directed its Committee on Security and Strategy to visit the affected area, engage stakeholders and recommend urgent legislative measures to address the security concerns.
Speaking after the deliberations, Speaker Adebo Ogundoyin reiterated the Assembly’s opposition to negotiating with terrorists and kidnappers, warning that such an approach could strengthen criminal networks and encourage future attacks.
While acknowledging the pain of families whose relatives remain in captivity, the Speaker urged residents to continue supporting security agencies and the state government as efforts to secure the victims’ release continue.
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He reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to measures aimed at improving security across Oyo State and preventing further attacks on schools and communities.
