Members of the House of Representatives during plenary as lawmakers demand urgent rescue of abducted Oyo pupils and teachers and push for stronger security reforms
The House of Representatives on Tuesday, urged the Federal Government and security agencies to secure the immediate and safe release of pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Lawmakers also called for the establishment of a permanent military Forward Operating Base in Oriire to strengthen security around the Old Oyo National Park axis, which they described as a growing corridor for armed banditry and kidnappings.
The resolutions followed a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Olamijuwonlo Alao-Akala during plenary in Abuja.
The House renewed its demand for a decentralised security structure, including the creation of State Police, local government policing units, decentralised courts, and integrated intelligence systems.
Lawmakers argued that Nigeria’s current centralised policing system can no longer effectively address evolving security threats across the country.
The motion highlighted the abduction of more than 30 pupils and teachers during coordinated attacks on schools in Yawota, Esiele, and L.A. Primary School on May 16, 2025.
The House mandated its Committees on Defence, Interior, Police Affairs, and National Security to monitor the implementation of the resolutions and report back within 30 days.
While presenting the motion, Alao-Akala said armed attackers invaded the schools in broad daylight before fleeing with the victims into forests connected to the Old Oyo National Park.
He further informed lawmakers that Michael Oyedokun, a mathematics teacher abducted during the attacks, was reportedly beheaded in captivity.
Lawmakers described the killing as horrifying and a reflection of the increasing brutality of criminal groups operating in the region.
Although the House acknowledged ongoing rescue efforts and the Federal Government’s approval for the deployment of additional forest guards, members stressed the need for faster and stronger security operations to prevent further loss of lives.
They warned that forest corridors stretching across Oyo and neighbouring states have become safe havens for criminal gangs, posing wider security risks to the South-West region.
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The House observed a one-minute silence in honour of Oyedokun, the abducted victims, and other Nigerians killed by kidnapping and banditry nationwide.
The debate has intensified renewed calls for comprehensive security reforms and restructuring of Nigeria’s internal security architecture.
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