The Oyo state house of assembly has rejected calls urging the state government to negotiate with armed groups responsible for the abduction of teachers and students during the recent attack in Ahoro-Esiele, Oriire LGA.
The resolution was reached on Wednesday during plenary after a motion of urgent public importance was moved by Johnson Ogundele, the lawmaker representing Oriire constituency following the resumption of the House from its Eid-el-Kabir recess.
Presenting the motion, Ogundele detailed the May 15 attack on Ahoro-Esiele and nearby communities, where armed men reportedly invaded during school hours, killing a teacher, a student, and a commercial motorcyclist, while abducting several pupils, students, and teachers. He also noted a pattern of rising insecurity in the area, including earlier attacks on security personnel and forest guards.
Lawmakers, in their deliberations, unanimously called for intensified rescue operations and stronger security deployment rather than negotiations with the abductors. They argued that engaging criminals in dialogue could encourage further attacks and embolden armed groups operating in the state.
The House also urged the state ministry of education and the state universal basic education board to carry out immediate security audits of schools located near forest corridors and border communities.
It further recommended urgent installation of perimeter fencing, solar-powered lighting, and CCTV systems in vulnerable schools, alongside the development of a coordinated Safe School emergency response framework.
During the debate, lawmakers raised broader concerns about insecurity across the state and called for the establishment of a permanent military base in Oriire Local Government Area to strengthen response operations. Others advocated increased funding and better equipment for local security outfits, including the Amotekun Corps, to improve their operational capacity.
The Assembly also called on community leaders and traditional institutions to enhance intelligence sharing with security agencies, while urging the government to provide psychosocial support and relief materials to victims’ families.
In his remarks, Adebo Ogundoyin, Speaker of the house firmly dismissed proposals for negotiation with kidnappers, warning that such an approach could worsen insecurity by strengthening criminal networks. He stressed that the priority should remain sustained security operations and coordinated rescue efforts to secure the safe release of abducted victims.
The House reaffirmed its commitment to supporting measures aimed at strengthening security across Oyo State and preventing further attacks on schools and communities.