Oyo Assembly Rules Out Negotiation with Bandits Over Abducted School Victims

The Oyo State House of Assembly has firmly rejected calls for the state government to enter into negotiations with the bandits responsible for the abduction of teachers and students in Oriire Local Government Area.

The resolution was passed on Wednesday following a motion of urgent public importance moved by the lawmaker representing Oriire State Constituency, Johnson Ogundele, shortly after the House resumed from the Sallah recess.

Presenting the motion, Ogundele recounted the May 15 attack on Ahoro-Esinle, Oyo, and Yawota communities, during which bandits invaded schools, killed a teacher, a student, and a commercial motorcyclist, and abducted dozens of pupils, students, and teachers.

The lawmaker expressed concern over recurring attacks in the area and called on Governor Seyi Makinde to intensify support for security agencies and establish a permanent military base in vulnerable communities.

The Assembly also urged the Ministry of Education and the State Universal Basic Education Board to conduct security audits of schools located near forests and border settlements. It called for the installation of solar-powered security lights, perimeter fencing, and CCTV cameras in vulnerable schools, as well as the development of a Safe School Emergency Response Protocol.

Seconding the motion, the Majority Leader, Sanjo Adedoyin, renewed calls for the creation of state police, arguing that the recent rescue operations exposed the challenges conventional security forces face in navigating dense forests.

Other lawmakers who contributed to the debate raised concerns about poor management of forest reserves, inadequate security presence, and the need to better equip the Amotekun Corps. Some noted that kidnapping had spread from forest areas to urban communities, citing the reported abduction of a former minister’s relatives.

In his remarks, Speaker Adebo Ogundoyin dismissed any suggestion of negotiating with terrorists, warning that such a move would embolden criminal elements. He urged residents to continue supporting security agencies and the state government in ongoing rescue efforts.

The House adopted several resolutions, including a call for a permanent military base in Oriire LGA, trauma counselling for affected families, and an oversight visit by its Committee on Security and Strategy to assess the situation.