The Oyo State House of Assembly on Wednesday dismissed calls and proposals urging the state government to engage in negotiations with bandits responsible for the abduction of teachers and students during the coordinated attack on Ahoro-Esiele in Oriire Local Government Area on Friday, May 15, 2026.
The lawmakers, however, urged security agencies to intensify rescue operations to ensure the safe release of those abducted during the incident.
The resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance presented by the member representing Oriire State Constituency, Johnson Ogundele, during plenary shortly after the Assembly reconvened from the Eid-el-Kabir (Sallah) recess.
The motion drew attention to the worsening security situation affecting parts of Oriire Local Government Area.
While moving the motion, Ogundele recalled the May 15 attack on Ahoro-Esienle, Oyo and Yawota communities, where armed bandits stormed the area during school hours, killing a teacher, a student and a commercial motorcyclist, while taking away several students, pupils and teachers.
The lawmaker expressed concern over repeated attacks in the area, saying “Oriire had witnessed increasing bandit activities since January, including the attack on the National Park Service office at Oloka village, where five forest guards were killed.
“Let me use this period to call on Governor Seyi Makinde for his swift response, deployment of security operatives, rescue efforts and personal visit to the affected communities.
“I want to equally urge the state government to intensify support for security agencies and establish a permanent military base within and around vulnerable communities and forest corridors in the area.”
The Assembly further urged the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology alongside the State Universal Basic Education Board to immediately carry out security assessments of schools situated near forests and border communities across the state.
It said, “The Assembly also urges the government to expedite the installation of solar-powered security lights, perimeter fencing and CCTV cameras in vulnerable schools and to develop a comprehensive Safe School Emergency Response Protocol for public and private schools across Oyo.
“The Assembly equally rejects suggestions and calls that the State Government should negotiate with the bandits who abducted teachers and students during the coordinated attack at the community in Oriire Local Government Area of the state, on Friday, May 15, 2026.”
Supporting the motion, Majority Leader Sanjo Adedoyin (Ogbomoso South) renewed demands for the establishment of state police, calling on the Federal Government to remove all bottlenecks hindering its implementation.
Adedoyin noted that recent rescue operations highlighted the difficulties conventional security agencies encounter in dense forest areas, compelling them to depend significantly on local vigilante groups and personnel of the Western Nigeria Security Network Agency, codenamed Amotekun Corps, to access difficult terrains.
He maintained that prevailing security challenges across states had reinforced the argument for state police and urged the Federal Government to accelerate action on the proposal.
Also contributing, Olubisi Oluranti (Ogbomoso North) praised the efforts of Governor Makinde and security agencies but emphasised the need for greater deployment of personnel to vulnerable communities to avert future attacks.
Similarly, Gbenga Oyekola (Atiba) attributed part of the security challenges to inadequate management of the extensive forest reserve owned and maintained by the Federal Government.
He lamented that despite the vast forest stretching across several locations in Oyo and neighbouring states, security coverage within the reserve remained insufficient.
Oyekola also raised concerns that despite reports of mining activities within parts of the forest, including helicopters allegedly landing and taking off from the area, adequate security arrangements had not been established to safeguard residents and legitimate operators.
Babajide Gabriel (Ibadan North II), in his contribution, advocated comprehensive reforms of Nigeria’s security framework.
He recalled previous concerns raised by Makinde regarding the limitations faced by governors who are constitutionally designated as chief security officers of their states but lack operational control over security agencies.
Gabriel appealed to the governor to recruit additional personnel into the Amotekun Corps to strengthen grassroots security operations and condemned attempts by some individuals to politicise the insecurity situation for partisan gains.
He urged all stakeholders to tackle the challenge collectively, stressing that insecurity had become a national issue requiring a united response.
Dawood Olalere (Ibadan North-West) observed that kidnapping had extended beyond forest-based criminal activities and was increasingly affecting urban and semi-urban areas.
He referenced the reported abduction of the sister of former Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, and her two sons earlier on Wednesday as evidence of the growing threat posed by kidnappers.
Olalere called for better equipment and improved weaponry for Amotekun operatives, arguing that personnel carrying locally fabricated weapons could not effectively confront heavily armed criminal gangs operating within forests and remote communities.
The House subsequently adopted several resolutions, including a call on the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Defence and relevant agencies, to establish a permanent military base in Oriire Local Government Area.
Lawmakers also urged the Oyo State Emergency Management Agency to provide trauma counselling, psychosocial support and relief materials to affected families, while calling on traditional rulers, community leaders and local government authorities to strengthen intelligence gathering and community policing initiatives.
The Assembly further directed its Committee on Security and Strategy to undertake an oversight visit to Oriire Local Government Area to evaluate the security situation, engage relevant stakeholders and recommend urgent legislative measures.
In his remarks, Speaker of the House, Adebo Ogundoyin, firmly “dismissed calls for the state government to negotiate with terrorists and kidnappers,” warning that “such a move could embolden criminal elements and encourage further attacks.”
While acknowledging the frustration, anxiety and impatience of families whose relatives remained in captivity, the Speaker urged residents to continue supporting security agencies and the state government in ongoing rescue efforts.
Ogundoyin maintained that negotiating with terrorists would send the wrong signal and potentially strengthen criminal networks, insisting that the focus should remain on sustained security operations, intelligence gathering and coordinated rescue missions aimed at securing the safe release of all victims.
He therefore reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to supporting measures aimed at strengthening security across Oyo State and preventing future attacks on schools and communities.
