The Oyo State House of Assembly on Wednesday rejected calls for negotiations with bandits responsible for the abduction of teachers and students during the attack on Ahoro-Esiele in Oriire Local Government Area of the state.
The lawmakers instead urged intensified security operations to secure the release of the victims abducted during the May 15, 2026, incident. The resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance moved during plenary by the lawmaker representing Oriire State Constituency, Johnson Ogundele, shortly after the House resumed from the Eid-el-Kabir recess.
Presenting the motion, Ogundele recounted the coordinated attack on Ahoro-Esiele, Oyo and Yawota communities, where armed men reportedly invaded during school hours, killing a teacher, a student and a motorcyclist, while abducting dozens of pupils, students and teachers.
He expressed concern over the recurring nature of attacks in the area, noting that Oriire Local Government had witnessed increasing incidents of banditry since January, including an earlier attack on the National Park Service office at Oloka village in which five forest guards were killed.
Ogundele called on Governor Seyi Makinde to intensify rescue efforts, deploy additional security personnel and visit affected communities.
He also urged the state government to strengthen support for security agencies and establish a permanent military base in vulnerable communities and forest corridors. The House further called on the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the State Universal Basic Education Board to conduct immediate security audits of schools located near forests and border communities.
Lawmakers also urged the installation of solar-powered streetlights, perimeter fencing and CCTV systems in vulnerable schools, as well as the development of a comprehensive Safe School Emergency Response Protocol for both public and private institutions across the state.
The Assembly unanimously rejected any proposal to negotiate with the abductors, warning that such action could embolden criminal groups and worsen insecurity. Seconding the motion, Majority Leader Sanjo Adedoyin renewed calls for the creation of state police, urging the Federal Government to remove barriers delaying its establishment.
He argued that recent rescue operations had exposed the limitations of conventional security agencies in navigating difficult terrain, necessitating greater reliance on local security outfits such as the Western Nigeria Security Network, known as Amotekun.
Other lawmakers contributed to the debate, commending ongoing security efforts while calling for increased deployment of personnel to vulnerable areas and improved coordination between federal and state security structures.
Some members also highlighted broader structural challenges, including inadequate security coverage of forest reserves and the spread of kidnapping activities into urban areas. Concerns were raised over the alleged presence of illegal activities within forest reserves, with lawmakers calling for stronger monitoring and enforcement.
The House subsequently adopted several resolutions, including a call for the establishment of a permanent military base in Oriire Local Government Area, improved welfare support for victims’ families, and enhanced community intelligence systems.
Lawmakers also directed the House Committee on Security and Strategy to conduct an oversight visit to the affected communities to assess the situation and recommend further legislative action. Speaker of the House, Adebo Ogundoyin, firmly dismissed calls for negotiations with kidnappers, warning that such actions could strengthen criminal networks.
While acknowledging the distress of affected families, he insisted that security agencies should be allowed to continue ongoing rescue operations aimed at securing the safe return of the victims. Ogundoyin reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to supporting measures aimed at improving security across the state and preventing further attacks on schools and communities.