Oyo Assembly rejects negotiation with bandits after school abduction
via Punch Nigeria12 min read
The Oyo State House of Assembly has rejected calls for the state government to negotiate with bandits responsible for the abduction of teachers and students in Ahoro-Esiele, Oriire Local Government Area, on May 15, 2026. Instead, the Assembly called for intensified rescue operations to secure the victims' release. This resolution followed a motion by Johnson Ogundele, representing Oriire State Constituency, who highlighted increasing insecurity in the area, including a previous attack on a National Park Service office where five forest guards were killed. The Assembly urged Governor Seyi Makinde to deploy security operatives and visit affected communities, and called for increased support for security agencies, including establishing a permanent military base in vulnerable areas. They also recommended that the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the State Universal Basic Education Board conduct security audits of schools near forests and border settlements, and expedite the installation of security lights, perimeter fencing, and CCTV cameras, along with developing a Safe School Emergency Response Protocol. Majority Leader Sanjo Adedoyin reiterated calls for state police, while Olubisi Oluranti emphasized increased personnel deployment. Gbenga Oyekola blamed poor management of forest reserves for some security challenges, and Babajide Gabriel called for structural reforms in Nigeria's security architecture and more recruitment into the Amotekun Corps. Dawood Olal
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
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Zacchaeus Olatunde, one of the teachers rescued after 56 days in captivity in Oyo State, stated that their abductors released them before security personnel escorted them home. During a telephone interview, Olatunde recounted the ordeal of teachers and pupils abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area. He mentioned that captives were blindfolded throughout their captivity and could not determine their location. The abductors communicated in Hausa, Nupe, English, and Yoruba, identifying themselves as members of the Islamic State West Africa Province, not Boko Haram. Olatunde described conditions where they were fed twice daily with rice, beans, onions, margarine, and salt, but were unable to bathe or wash clothes for 56 days. Initially, prayer was prohibited, but later allowed with restrictions on mentioning Jesus or praying aloud. Their release was unexpected, with the commander informing them they were free. Olatunde, who was the last to leave due to a broken handcuff key, was directed by the commander to the correct route after attempting to follow others. The former captives trekked for about an hour before motorcycles provided by the kidnappers took them closer to a village, followed by another 1.5 hours of trekking to meet security personnel. They initially feared the security personnel due to their Hausa language and the buses lacking number plates and having Arabic inscriptions. Olatunde also shared how he helped younger pupils cross rivers and how his arthr