The Oyo Assembly ruled out talk of ransom, and demanded increased security to tackle the school kidnapping crisis

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

The position was adopted on Wednesday during the plenary session after MPs considered an urgent public interest motion submitted to the House by the member representing Oriire State Constituency, Johnson Ogundele, following the return of the Assembly from the Eid recess.

The motion centered on the deteriorating security situation in parts of Oriire LGA, particularly the May 15 attacks on Ahoro-Esiele, Oyo and Yawota communities, where armed assailants stormed schools during teaching hours, killing a teacher, a student and a commercial motorbike rider before kidnapping a number of pupils, students and teachers.

While presenting the motion, Ogundele deplored the increasing activities of armed groups in the area, and noted that this latest incident was part of a disturbing pattern of attacks that have hit the constituency in recent months.

According to him, “Oriire has witnessed an increase in bandit activity since January, including an attack on the National Park Service office in Oloka village, which killed five forest guards.

“Let me use this period to appeal to Governor Seyi Makinde for his swift response, deployment of security forces, rescue efforts and personal visits to the affected communities.

“I would also like to urge the state government to intensify support for security agencies and establish permanent military bases in and around vulnerable communities and forest corridors in the region.”

The Assembly then urged the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the State Board of Universal Basic Education to immediately conduct a security assessment of schools located in communities bordering forests and other vulnerable areas across the state.

Also read: Police question Wike’s aide, detain INEC official over alleged voter data leak

Lawmakers also called for urgent security improvements at schools.

“The assembly also urges the government to speed up the installation of solar-powered security lights, perimeter fencing and CCTV cameras in vulnerable schools and to develop a comprehensive Safe Schools Emergency Response Protocol for public and private schools across OYO.

“The Assembly also rejected suggestions and calls that the State Government should negotiate with the bandits who kidnapped teachers and students during coordinated attacks on communities in Oriire Local Government Area of ​​the state, on Friday, May 15, 2026.”

Supporting the motion, Majority Leader Sanjo Adedoyin renewed calls for a state police force, arguing that the security challenges facing states have exposed the limitations of the current police structure.

He cited the difficulties encountered during rescue efforts, and noted that conventional security forces often have difficulty accessing dense forest areas and have to rely heavily on local residents and agents of the Western Nigeria Security Network, Amotekun Corps, for operations in certain areas.

Adedoyin urged the Federal Government to remove all obstacles hindering the establishment of state police formations.

Other MPs also contributed to the debate, highlighting various dimensions of the security crisis.

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

Gbenga Oyekola, representing Atiba Constituency, argued that inadequate security coverage in the vast protected forest area covering Oyo and neighboring states had exacerbated the problem.

He expressed concern over reports of mining activity in some parts of the forest, including claims of helicopter movements, despite the lack of adequate security to protect local communities.

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

He recalled concerns previously expressed by Governor Makinde regarding the constitutional limitations faced by state governors, who are appointed chief security officers but have no operational control over security agencies.

Gabriel also called for increased recruitment into the Amotekun Corps and criticized efforts to politicize insecurity, stressing that the challenge must be addressed collectively and not through a partisan lens.

Dawood Olalere of Ibadan North-West also warned that kidnappings were no longer confined to remote forests, and said that 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 on Wednesday morning as evidence that the menace had spread beyond rural communities.

Olalere further argued that Amotekun agents needed better weapons and equipment to deal effectively with heavily armed criminal groups.

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

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

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

Additionally, the House of Representatives directed the Security and Strategy Committee to visit Oriire, assess the security situation directly, engage stakeholders and recommend urgent legislative measures.

While delivering his remarks, Chief Adebo Ogundoyin firmly opposed suggestions that the government should hold discussions with the kidnappers.

He categorically “rejected calls for state governments to negotiate with terrorists and kidnappers,” and warned that “such steps could embolden criminal elements and encourage further attacks.”

While acknowledging the pain and anxiety experienced by the families of those still detained, the Chairman called for patience and continued cooperation with security agencies.

Ogundoyin stated that negotiating with criminal groups would strengthen their operations and create incentives for future attacks, and stressed that the priority must remain intelligence-driven security operations and coordinated rescue efforts.

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