Oyo Assembly rules out ransom talks, demands stronger security push over school kidnap crisis

The Oyo State House of Assembly has firmly rejected calls for negotiations with the gunmen responsible for the mass abduction of teachers and schoolchildren in Oriire Local Government Area, insisting that security agencies must intensify rescue operations to secure the victims’ freedom.

The position was adopted on Wednesday during plenary after lawmakers deliberated on a motion of urgent public importance brought before the House by the member representing Oriire State Constituency, Johnson Ogundele, following the Assembly’s return from the Eid-el-Kabir recess.

The motion centred on the worsening security situation in parts of Oriire LGA, particularly the May 15 attack on Ahoro-Esiele, Oyo and Yawota communities, where armed assailants stormed schools during learning hours, killing a teacher, a student and a commercial motorcyclist before abducting scores of pupils, students and teachers.

While presenting the motion, Ogundele lamented the growing activities of armed groups in the area, noting that the latest incident was part of a disturbing pattern of attacks that had plagued the constituency in recent months.

According to him, “Oriire had witnessed increasing bandit activities since January, including the attack on the National Park Service office at Oloka village, where five forest guards were killed.

“Let me use this period to call on Governor Seyi Makinde for his swift response, deployment of security operatives, rescue efforts and personal visit to the affected communities.

“I want to equally urge the state government to intensify support for security agencies and establish a permanent military base within and around vulnerable communities and forest corridors in the area.”

The Assembly subsequently urged the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the State Universal Basic Education Board to immediately undertake security assessments of schools located in forest-bordering communities and other vulnerable areas across the state.

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Lawmakers also called for urgent security upgrades in schools.

“The Assembly also urges the government to expedite the installation of solar-powered security lights, perimeter fencing and CCTV cameras in vulnerable schools and to develop a comprehensive Safe School Emergency Response Protocol for public and private schools across Oyo.

“The Assembly equally rejects suggestions and calls that the State Government should negotiate with the bandits who abducted teachers and students during the coordinated attack at the community in Oriire Local Government Area of the state, on Friday, May 15, 2026.”

Supporting the motion, Majority Leader Sanjo Adedoyin renewed the demand for state police, arguing that the security challenges confronting states had exposed the limitations of the current policing structure.

He pointed to the difficulties encountered during rescue efforts, noting that conventional security forces often struggled to access dense forest areas and had to rely significantly on local vigilantes and operatives of the Western Nigeria Security Network, Amotekun Corps, for terrain-specific operations.

Adedoyin urged the Federal Government to remove all obstacles standing in the way of establishing state police formations.

Other lawmakers also contributed to the debate, highlighting different dimensions of the security crisis.

Representing Ogbomoso North, Olubisi Oluranti praised Governor Seyi Makinde and security agencies for their interventions but stressed the need for greater deployment of personnel to high-risk communities.

Gbenga Oyekola, representing Atiba Constituency, argued that inadequate security coverage within the vast forest reserves spanning Oyo and neighbouring states had worsened the problem.

He expressed concern over reports of mining activities within sections of the forest, including claims of helicopter movements, despite the apparent absence of sufficient security presence to protect surrounding communities.

For Babajide Gabriel of Ibadan North II, the crisis underscored the urgent need for comprehensive reforms to Nigeria’s security framework.

He recalled earlier concerns raised by Governor Makinde about the constitutional limitations faced by state governors, who are designated chief security officers but lack operational control over security agencies.

Gabriel also appealed for increased recruitment into the Amotekun Corps and criticised attempts to politicise insecurity, insisting that the challenge should be addressed collectively rather than through partisan lenses.

Similarly, Dawood Olalere of Ibadan North-West warned that kidnapping was no longer confined to remote forests, saying criminal gangs were increasingly targeting urban and semi-urban areas.

He cited the reported abduction of the sister of former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, and her two sons in Ibadan earlier on Wednesday as evidence that the threat had spread beyond rural communities.

Olalere further argued that Amotekun operatives required better weapons and equipment to confront heavily armed criminal groups effectively.

Following the debate, the House adopted a series of resolutions, including a call on the Federal Government and the Ministry of Defence to establish a permanent military base in Oriire Local Government Area.

Lawmakers also urged the Oyo State Emergency Management Agency to provide counselling, psychosocial assistance and relief materials to families affected by the abductions.

The Assembly further appealed to traditional rulers, local government authorities and community leaders to strengthen grassroots intelligence gathering and community policing efforts.

In addition, the House directed its Committee on Security and Strategy to visit Oriire, assess the security situation firsthand, engage stakeholders and recommend urgent legislative measures.

Delivering his remarks, Speaker Adebo Ogundoyin strongly opposed any suggestion that government should enter into discussions with kidnappers.

He firmly “dismissed calls for the state government to negotiate with terrorists and kidnappers,” warning that “such a move could embolden criminal elements and encourage further attacks.”

While acknowledging the pain and anxiety being experienced by families of those still in captivity, the Speaker appealed for patience and continued cooperation with security agencies.

Ogundoyin maintained that entering negotiations with criminal groups would strengthen their operations and create incentives for future attacks, stressing that the priority should remain intelligence-driven security operations and coordinated rescue efforts.

He reaffirmed the Assembly’s determination to support policies and initiatives aimed at strengthening security across Oyo State and preventing further attacks on schools, communities and other vulnerable targets.

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