The Senate on Tuesday strongly condemned the abduction of dozens of school children, teachers, and a toddler in Ahoro-Esiele and surrounding communities of Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, describing the incident as a direct assault on the nation’s future and educational system.
Leading the debate through a motion titled “The Abduction of School Children, Teachers and a Toddler in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State,” Senator Buhari Abdulfatai (Oyo North) expressed deep concern over the worsening security situation and called for urgent action to rescue the remaining victims.
The lawmaker informed the Senate that forty-nine persons, including school children, teachers and a toddler, were abducted by armed kidnappers during the attack. According to him, three victims were shot, one was gruesomely beheaded, while forty-five others remain in captivity.
“The victims were abducted from a learning environment that ought to symbolize safety, hope and the future of our nation,” he said.
Senator Buhari particularly lamented the killing of Mr. Michael Oyedokun, a Mathematics teacher who was allegedly beheaded by the attackers, describing the act as barbaric and inhumane.
He noted that the incident has generated widespread fear, anxiety and outrage among residents of Oyo State and Nigerians generally.
“When schools become hunting grounds for criminals, the future of the nation itself is imperiled,” the senator warned.
The Senate also acknowledged the visit of a Federal Government delegation led by the Chief of Staff to the President, accompanied by the National Security Adviser, the Minister of Defence and the Inspector-General of Police, to Oriire Local Government Area to sympathize with affected families and assess the security situation.
Senator Defends Federal Government’s Response
Responding to concerns that the Federal Government’s response appeared less robust than interventions witnessed during previous kidnapping incidents in Niger and Kebbi States, Senator Buhari dismissed such comparisons.
According to him, security operations differ based on the peculiarities of each incident and should not be measured solely by public appearances.
“I disagree with that comparison. Procedures may be different depending on the circumstances on the ground. The approach adopted in one situation may not necessarily be the same in another,” he said.
The senator revealed that he had personally visited the affected area on multiple occasions before the Federal Government delegation’s visit and maintained close contact with security agencies involved in ongoing rescue operations.
“There are many things that cannot be discussed publicly when it comes to security matters. This particular incident is extremely painful and has several peculiar dimensions,” he stated.
Tragic Stories from the Community
Senator Buhari recounted several heartbreaking stories from the affected communities, illustrating the devastating impact of the attack.
He narrated how the widow of the slain teacher, Mr. Michael Oyedokun, was overwhelmed with grief when he visited her.
“All she kept saying was, ‘I just want my husband.’ The pain was unimaginable,” he said.
He further disclosed that another teacher was shot dead while attempting to escape through a window during the attack.
The lawmaker also recounted the killing of a commercial motorcycle rider who was reportedly mistaken for someone pursuing the kidnappers.
According to him, the rider was merely transporting a passenger between neighboring communities when he was shot and killed by the attackers.
In another tragic account, Senator Buhari said a man whose wife and four children were abducted became so distraught that he contemplated taking his own life.
“I had to plead with him not to lose hope. I asked him to think about what would happen if his wife and children returned home and found that he was no longer there,” he said.
Fear Forced Residents to Flee
The senator described the atmosphere in the affected communities as one of complete fear and panic, revealing that many residents abandoned their homes following the attack.
He said the level of insecurity was so severe that even he could not immediately visit the community in the first few days after the incident.
“Everybody ran away from the town. The fear was overwhelming,” he explained.
According to him, confidence gradually returned after the Federal Government deployed military reinforcements, including battalions led by senior military officers, to the area.
“The deployment of troops helped restore confidence among residents and strengthened ongoing rescue efforts,” he noted.
Senate Resolutions
Following deliberations, the Senate unanimously resolved to:
* Condemn in the strongest terms the abduction of school children, teachers and a toddler in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
* Commiserate with affected families, communities and the Government of Oyo State.
* Urge security agencies to intensify rescue operations and deploy all necessary resources toward securing the release of the remaining victims.
* Call on the Federal Government to strengthen and expand the Safe Schools Initiative through enhanced surveillance, intelligence gathering and improved security around schools and vulnerable communities nationwide.
Concluding his presentation, Senator Buhari urged the government to intensify efforts to protect citizens and secure educational institutions across the country.
“It is sad that these criminals and evil-minded people are now everywhere in our country. We must strengthen security to protect lives and property and ensure that our schools remain safe places for learning,” he said.
