THE House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government and security agencies to intensify efforts to secure the safe return of pupils and teachers abducted from Baptist Nursery and Primary School (Yawota), Community Grammar School (Esiele), and L.A. Primary School in Oyo State.
The appeal was made during today’s plenary session following a motion sponsored by Hon. Olamijuwonlo Alao-Akala.
Lawmakers stressed the urgency of the situation, emphasizing that every passing hour increases the risk to the lives of those still being held captive.
The call comes amid growing concerns over the safety of the victims, particularly following the killing of one of the abducted teachers, Michael Oyedokun, who was reportedly beheaded by his captors while in captivity.
To strengthen security in the affected region, the lawmakers recommended the establishment of a permanent military forward operating base in Oriire Local Government Area, in addition to the 1,000 forest guards already approved by President Bola Tinubu.
According to the House, the move would help secure the Old Oyo National Park and surrounding border communities, which have become vulnerable to criminal activities.
The House also renewed its call for the implementation of a decentralized security framework, including the creation of state police, local government policing units, decentralized courts, and an integrated national intelligence and surveillance system.
Lawmakers argued that further delays in implementing these measures could continue to expose innocent citizens to violence and insecurity.
The lawmakers’ appeal coincided with ongoing nationwide protests led by the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), which organized rallies across several states, including Oyo, Ogun, Kano, Plateau, Lagos, Edo, Rivers, and Yobe, demanding the immediate rescue of the abducted teachers and pupils.
The demonstrations followed a peaceful protest held in Ibadan on Monday by civil society organizations, which also called on authorities to take swift action to secure the release of the victims and address the growing insecurity affecting schools and communities.
