Oyo Assembly rejects negotiation with bandits

The Oyo State House of Assembly has rejected calls for the state government to negotiate with bandits responsible for the abduction of teachers and students during the attack on Ahoro-Esiele and Yawota communities in Oriire Local Government Area.

Instead, lawmakers urged security agencies to intensify rescue operations and ensure the safe return of all victims still in captivity.

The resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by the member representing Oriire State Constituency, Johnson Ogundele, during plenary on Wednesday after the Assembly resumed from the Eid-el-Kabir recess.

Presenting the motion, Ogundele recalled the May 15 attack in which armed bandits stormed the communities during school hours, killing a teacher, a student and a commercial motorcyclist before abducting dozens of pupils, students and teachers.

He expressed concern over the growing wave of insecurity in the area, noting that Oriire had witnessed several attacks since January, including an assault on the National Park Service office at Oloka village where five forest guards were killed.

Ogundele commended Governor Seyi Makinde for his swift response, deployment of security personnel and visit to the affected communities. He also called for increased support for security agencies and the establishment of a permanent military base in vulnerable communities and forest corridors within the local government area.

The Assembly further directed the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to conduct security audits of schools located near forests and border communities.

Lawmakers also urged the government to accelerate the installation of solar-powered security lights, perimeter fencing and CCTV cameras in vulnerable schools, while developing a comprehensive Safe School Emergency Response Protocol for public and private schools across the state.

Seconding the motion, Majority Leader Sanjo Adedoyin renewed calls for the creation of state police, arguing that recent rescue operations highlighted the limitations of conventional security agencies in navigating dense forests without the support of local vigilantes and the Amotekun Corps.

Adedoyin urged the Federal Government to remove obstacles delaying the establishment of state police, saying the country’s current security realities demanded a more decentralised approach.

Other lawmakers echoed concerns over the worsening security situation. Olubisi Oluranti called for increased deployment of security personnel to vulnerable communities, while Gbenga Oyekola blamed part of the challenge on inadequate security presence within the vast forest reserves managed by the Federal Government.

Oyekola also raised concerns over reported mining activities and helicopter movements within parts of the forest, insisting that stronger security measures were needed to safeguard residents and legitimate operators.

Babajide Gabriel advocated comprehensive reforms of Nigeria’s security architecture and urged Governor Makinde to recruit more personnel into the Amotekun Corps to strengthen local security operations. He also cautioned against politicising insecurity, describing it as a national challenge requiring collective action.

Dawood Olalere noted that kidnapping had spread beyond forest communities to urban and semi-urban areas, citing the reported abduction of the sister of former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, and her two sons as evidence of the growing threat.

He called for better equipment and improved weaponry for Amotekun operatives, arguing that locally made weapons were inadequate against heavily armed criminal groups.

The House subsequently adopted several resolutions, including a call on the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Defence and relevant agencies, to establish a permanent military base in Oriire Local Government Area.

Lawmakers also urged the Oyo State Emergency Management Agency to provide trauma counselling, psychosocial support and relief materials to affected families. They further called on traditional rulers, community leaders and local government authorities to strengthen intelligence gathering and community policing efforts.

The Assembly directed its Committee on Security and Strategy to undertake an oversight visit to Oriire Local Government Area to assess the security situation, engage stakeholders and recommend urgent legislative interventions.

In his remarks, Speaker Adebo Ogundoyin firmly dismissed suggestions that the government should negotiate with kidnappers and terrorists, warning that such a move could encourage further attacks and embolden criminal groups.

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 operations.

He maintained that the focus should remain on intelligence-driven security operations and coordinated rescue efforts aimed at securing the safe release of all victims, while reaffirming the Assembly’s commitment to strengthening security across Oyo State and preventing future attacks on schools and communities.