Senate Condemns Oyo School Abduction, Demands Immediate Rescue Of Victims

The Senate on Wednesday condemned the recent abduction and continuing holding of schoolchildren, teachers and a toddler at Ahoro-Esiele, in Oriire local government area of Oyo State.

The upper legislative body described the incident as a disturbing attack on the nation’s future and called for urgent action to secure the release of those still in captivity.

No fewer than 49 of the school children and teachers were on May 19, abducted from the schools. Three of the victims were shot, a mathematics teacher, Mr Michael Oyedokun was beheaded while 45 are still in captivity.

The Senate’s intervention followed a motion sponsored by the senator representing Oyo North, Abdulfatai Buhari who drew the attention of the lawmakers to the unfortunate incident.

Presenting the motion, Buhari bemoaned the shooting of three persons, beheading of a teacher and the fate of 45 abductees still in captivity.

The Oyo senator deplored the abduction from a learning environment, which he said should ordinarily represent safety, hope and the future of the nation.

The lawmaker expressed concern that a toddler was among those in captivity, saying the child’s age and vulnerability underscored the cruelty and inhumanity of the perpetrators.

He particularly lamented the killing of a mathematics teacher, who was beheaded by the kidnappers, describing the act as barbaric and one that had spread fear within Oyo State and across the country.

According to him, the incident has generated widespread anxiety and public outrage while exposing serious security gaps around schools and rural communities across the federation.

Senator Buhari warned that the nation risks jeopardising its future when educational institutions become targets for criminal elements.

He however, acknowledged the visit of a Federal Government delegation led by the Chief of Staff to the President, alongside the National Security Adviser, the Minister of Defence and the Inspector-General of Police, to the area.

He urged the Federal Government to strengthen security across the country, stressing that criminal elements had become emboldened and were operating in different parts of the nation.

Following consideration of the motion, the Senate condemned the abduction in the strongest terms and expressed sympathy with the affected families, communities and the Oyo State Government.

The upper chamber also urged the Federal Government and all relevant security agencies to intensify efforts and deploy all necessary resources to ensure the immediate rescue of the victims.

In addition, the Senate called on the Federal Government to strengthen and expand the Safe Schools Initiative through enhanced surveillance, improved intelligence gathering and increased security deployment around vulnerable schools and communities nationwide.

The lawmakers maintained that urgent and coordinated action was required to prevent further attacks on schools and restore public confidence in the country’s security architecture.