Oyo State lawmakers vow not to accept negotiation with Ogbomoso abductors

The Oyo State legislators have vowed not to accept calls and pressures to negotiate with abductors of Ogbomoso pupils and teachers.

The lawmakers called for called for conceited effort to rescue the victims, adding that the approach should rather focus on intelligence-led security action and sustained pressure on the kidnappers until the victims are freed.

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Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin speaking on Wednesday during plenary, warned that negotiating with abductors means strengthening and emboldening them to carry out further abductions.

The Speaker called on residents to continue support for security agents in order tackle insecurity pervading the land, while he sympathise with the families of the abducted ones over the trauma they were subjected to.

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He argued that the situation will degenerate, if armed groups are sent to engage bandits.

Lawmakers were reacting to the May 15 attack on three schools in Oriire Local Government Area, where suspected bandits abducted about 39 pupils and seven teachers which a teacher, Michael Oyedokun was killed.

In a recent video, Rachael Alamu, principal of Community High School, Esiele, who is among the abductees, pleaded for urgent intervention after the kidnappers reportedly threatened to kill another victim.

The House urged the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board to immediately assess schools located near forests and border communities.

The lawmakers called for solar-powered lighting, perimeter fencing, surveillance cameras and a comprehensive emergency response framework for high-risk schools.

The Assembly also mandated its Committee on Security and Strategy to visit Oriire Local Government Area for an on-the-spot assessment and recommend urgent legislative action.

The resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by Johnson Ogundele, lawmaker representing Oriire State Constituency.

Ogundele said Oriire had suffered repeated attacks since January, including an assault on the National Park Service office in Oloka village, where five forest guards were killed.

The lawmaker commended Governor Seyi Makinde for deploying security operatives and visiting affected communities.

He, however, urged the government to increase support for security agencies and consider establishing a permanent military presence around vulnerable communities and forest corridors.

Majority Leader Sanjo Adedoyin, who seconded the motion, also called on the Federal Government to accelerate plans for state police.

The debate came amid growing concern over insecurity in Oyo State, including Wednesday’s abduction of Olaide John-Paul, younger sister of former Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu, and her twin sons in Ibadan.

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