The Oyo State House of Assembly has firmly rejected calls for the state government to negotiate with bandits responsible for the abduction of students and teachers during the attack on Ahoro-Esiele in Oriire Local Government Area, insisting that security agencies should instead intensify efforts to secure the victims’ release.
The resolution was reached on Wednesday following a motion of urgent public importance moved by the lawmaker representing Oriire State Constituency, Johnson Ogundele, during plenary after the Assembly resumed from the Eid-el-Kabir break.
Presenting the motion, Ogundele recalled the May 15 attack on Ahoro-Esiele, Oyo and Yawota communities, where armed bandits invaded schools during academic activities. The attack reportedly claimed the lives of a teacher, a student and a commercial motorcyclist, while dozens of students, pupils and teachers were kidnapped.
The lawmaker lamented the growing insecurity in Oriire, noting that the area had experienced repeated attacks since January. He cited an earlier assault on a National Park Service office in Oloka village where five forest guards were killed.
Ogundele commended Governor Seyi Makinde for his swift response to the incident, including the deployment of security personnel, ongoing rescue efforts and his visit to the affected communities.
He also urged the state government to provide more support for security agencies and establish a permanent military base around vulnerable communities and forest corridors in the area.
As part of its resolutions, the Assembly called on the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the State Universal Basic Education Board to conduct immediate security assessments of schools located near forests and border communities.
Lawmakers also recommended the installation of solar-powered security lights, perimeter fencing and CCTV cameras in vulnerable schools, as well as the development of a comprehensive Safe School Emergency Response Protocol for both public and private educational institutions across the state.
The House maintained that negotiating with kidnappers would only encourage further criminal activities and strengthen the operations of bandit groups.
Supporting the motion, Majority Leader Sanjo Adedoyin renewed calls for the creation of state police, arguing that the security challenges facing states have made the initiative necessary.
He noted that recent rescue operations in forest areas exposed the limitations of conventional security agencies, which often rely heavily on local vigilantes and Amotekun operatives to access difficult terrains.
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Other lawmakers also contributed to the debate, calling for increased security presence in vulnerable communities, better management of forest reserves, recruitment of more personnel into the Amotekun Corps and improved equipment for local security outfits.
The Assembly further directed its Committee on Security and Strategy to visit Oriire Local Government Area to assess the situation and recommend urgent legislative interventions.
In his remarks, Speaker of the House, Adebo Ogundoyin, dismissed suggestions that the government should negotiate with terrorists and kidnappers, warning that such a move would embolden criminal elements and lead to more attacks.
While acknowledging the pain and anxiety of families whose loved ones remain in captivity, the Speaker urged residents to continue supporting security agencies and ongoing rescue efforts.
Ogundoyin stressed that the focus should remain on intelligence gathering, coordinated security operations and sustained rescue missions aimed at securing the safe release of all abducted victims.
He reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to supporting measures that would strengthen security across Oyo State and prevent future attacks on schools and communities.
