By Oluwakemi Kindness
The House of Representatives on Tuesday urged the Federal Government and security agencies to urgently secure the immediate and safe release of pupils and teachers abducted in the Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The House following a motion of urgent public importance also resolved that a permanent military Forward Operating Base be established in Orire to strengthen security across the Old Oyo National Park axis, which lawmakers say has become a major corridor for armed bandit activity.
In addition, the lawmakers renewed their push for the full implementation of a decentralised security architecture, including the creation of State and local government policing units.
Others include decentralised courts, and integrated intelligence systems, arguing that Nigeria’s current centralised policing model is no longer adequate to confront evolving security threats.
These resolutions at resumption of plenary on Tuesday followed a motion by Olamijuwonlo Alao-Akala, which raised alarm over the kidnapping of more than 30 pupils and teachers during coordinated attacks on schools in Yawota, Esiele, and L.A. Primary School on 16 May 2025.
The House further mandated its Committees on Defence, Interior, Police Affairs, and National Security to monitor implementation of the resolutions and report back within 30 days.
In his lead debate, Alao-Akala, told lawmakers that armed assailants invaded three schools in Orire LGA in broad daylight, abducting pupils and teachers and fleeing into nearby forests linked to the Old Oyo National Park.
The motion also highlighted the killing of Michael Oyedokun, a mathematics teacher, who was reportedly beheaded while in captivity, an incident described as deeply shocking and a symbol of the escalating brutality of armed groups operating in the region.
While acknowledging ongoing rescue operations and the deployment of additional forest guards approved by the Federal Government, lawmakers stressed that the response must be significantly accelerated to prevent further loss of lives.
They warned that forest corridors spanning Oyo and neighbouring states have become safe havens for criminal groups, increasing the risk of wider insecurity across the South-West.
The House observed a one-minute silence in honour of Oyedokun, the abducted victims, and all Nigerians who have lost their lives to kidnapping and banditry nationwide.
