The Oyo State House of Assembly has called for immediate security reforms across all schools in the state following the abduction of over 40 schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area on 15 May. The resolution was passed during plenary on Tuesday after a motion moved by Oluwafemi Oluwafowokanmi, the lawmaker representing Ibadan South-West State Constituency II and chairman of the House Committee on Child Education.
Motion Highlights Growing Vulnerabilities
Moving the motion, Mr. Oluwafowokanmi noted that the recent attacks on Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele, and L.A. Primary School, Yawota, in Oriire Local Government Area exposed the increasing vulnerabilities of schools and underscored the urgent need for security intervention. He stated, "Our failure to provide functional security measures across all our public schools has led to the present situation we find ourselves in at this moment. We cannot afford to keep silent on the need to deploy measures, security measures that will prevent the recurrence of the Oriire school attack elsewhere in the state."
Threats to Education System
According to the lawmaker, criminal attacks targeting schools pose significant threats to students, teachers, and the broader education system. He said, "The present insecurity challenges in our nation, especially where public schools are increasingly vulnerable targets for criminal activities, including kidnapping, vandalism, cultivated violence, and other forms of insecurity have become worrisome." He warned that continued attacks could discourage parents from enrolling their children in public schools, undermining access to education, particularly for children from low-income households. "What then will be the hope of the children of the less privileged low-income earners, whose only available means of education lies in public schools, particularly at this moment when the government is working to reduce the number of out-of-school children?" he questioned.
Call for Amotekun Deployment
The House stressed the need to strengthen the regional security network, Amotekun Corps, and other security agencies to protect educational institutions across the state. It urged the state government to put necessary measures in place to deploy Amotekun security personnel and other security agents to each public school to prevent criminal activities and improve emergency response to any likely security threat. The House further urged the executive arm of government, through the Amotekun Corps, to commence the phased deployment of trained security personnel to public and private primary and secondary schools across the state, with priority given to schools in rural areas, border communities, and locations adjoining forest reserves.
Security Audits and Collaboration
The Assembly also called on the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, and the Teaching Service Commission to collaborate with security agencies in conducting comprehensive security audits of public schools.
Abduction Details and Aftermath
The abduction occurred on 15 May when armed men attacked schools in Oriire Local Government Area near Ogbomoso, kidnapping about 39 pupils and seven teachers. The incident triggered widespread outrage across Oyo State and renewed concerns about school safety. As of Friday, the victims had spent about 21 days in captivity, with families, education stakeholders, and residents anxiously awaiting their release. The crisis deepened after abductors beheaded one of the victims, Michael Oyedokun, a mathematics teacher, and threatened to execute others. This heightened fears and prompted calls for urgent intervention by security agencies and government authorities.
Teachers' Strike and Government Response
The abduction also prompted the Oyo State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) to embark on an indefinite strike on 1 June, demanding the immediate rescue of the victims and stronger security measures in schools. Last Friday, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde announced restrictions on commercial motorcycle operations (okada) between 10:30 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. across the state to strengthen security and combat criminal activities. The governor also reassured families and residents of Oriire Local Government Area of round-the-clock efforts to secure the release of the abducted teachers and pupils. He gave the assurance while hosting a Nigerian Air Force delegation led by Air Officer Commanding, Logistics Command, Air Vice Marshal Abubakar Suleh, in Ibadan.
Governor Makinde's Assurance
Governor Makinde urged residents, especially those in Yawota and Ahoro-Esiele, to be patient as efforts were in top gear to rescue the victims. He thanked the Air Force for deploying a Diamond-42 surveillance aircraft for real-time monitoring of the rescue operation. The governor explained that the state had ordered two Diamond-42 aircraft, now being assembled at the NAF base in Lagos, but the Force provided a replacement plane while the state's aircraft were being fitted. He emphasized that patience was required for a successful operation and noted that his government bought the aircraft proactively to ease the burden on overstretched security forces. He added that the state would take up the NAF's offer to train pilots and maintain the aircraft once deployed. He also commended the Air Force's cordial relationship with civilians in Ibadan and promised to fulfill state commitments, including completing the Air Force Base and other projects.
