Lawmakers urge security agencies to act swiftly, advocate state police and military base in Oriire following killing of teacher in captivity.
The House of Representatives on Tuesday called on the Federal Government and security agencies to ensure the safe return of students and teachers abducted from Baptist Nursery and Primary School (Yawota), Community Grammar School (Esiele), and L.A. Primary School in Oyo State.
The appeal followed a motion moved by Hon. Olamijuwonlo Alao-Akala during plenary, where lawmakers expressed concern over the worsening security situation and the continued captivity of the victims. Alao-Akala urged authorities to act without delay, stressing that every passing hour increases the danger faced by those still being held by their captors.
The lawmakers’ call comes amid reports that one of the abducted teachers, Michael Oyedokun of Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele, was beheaded by bandits while in captivity. In response, the House advocated the establishment of a permanent military forward operating base in Oriire Local Government Area, in addition to the 1,000 forest guards already approved by President Bola Tinubu. The lawmakers also renewed calls for the creation of state and local police units, as well as a decentralized security architecture and integrated intelligence network. Their demands coincide with growing public outrage and nationwide protests by the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) and civil society groups, who have continued to press for the immediate rescue of the remaining victims.