The Oyo State House of Assembly has called on the Federal Government to expedite the establishment of state police and intensify efforts to rescue victims abducted during recent bandit attacks on schools and communities in Oriire Local Government Area.
The Assembly also firmly rejected calls for the Oyo State Government to negotiate with terrorists and kidnappers, insisting that such a move could encourage further criminal activities.
The resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by the lawmaker representing Oriire State Constituency, Johnson Ogundele, during plenary on Wednesday.
Presenting the motion, Ogundele recounted the May 15 attack on Esinele, Oyo and Yawota communities, where armed bandits reportedly invaded schools during school hours, killing a teacher, a student and an okada rider while abducting several pupils, students and teachers.
While commending Governor Seyi Makinde for his swift intervention and deployment of security operatives, Ogundele urged the state government to establish a permanent military base around vulnerable communities and forest corridors in the area.
Seconding the motion, Majority Leader, Sanjo Adedoyin, renewed calls for the creation of state police, arguing that recent rescue operations exposed the limitations faced by conventional security agencies in navigating dense forests. He said the situation further justified the need for state-controlled policing structures.
Contributing to the debate, Olubisi Oluranti commended the efforts of Governor Makinde and security agencies but called for increased deployment of security personnel to vulnerable communities.
Also speaking, Gbenga Oyekola attributed part of the security challenge to inadequate management and security presence within the expansive forest reserves controlled by the Federal Government. He expressed concern over reported mining activities and alleged helicopter movements within the forests without corresponding security measures.
For his part, Babajide Gabriel advocated comprehensive reforms of Nigeria’s security architecture and called on the state government to recruit more personnel into the Amotekun Corps to strengthen grassroots security operations.
Similarly, Dawood Olalere observed that kidnapping had spread beyond forest communities into urban and semi-urban areas. He urged the government to provide better equipment and weaponry for Amotekun operatives to effectively confront heavily armed criminal gangs.
The House subsequently adopted resolutions calling on the Federal Government to establish a permanent military base in Oriire Local Government Area, conduct security audits of vulnerable schools, improve security infrastructure around educational institutions and strengthen community policing initiatives.
In his remarks, Speaker of the House, Adebo Ogundoyin firmly rejected suggestions that the state government should negotiate with terrorists and kidnappers. He maintained that such negotiations would embolden criminal elements and undermine ongoing rescue operations.
Ogundoyin reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to supporting policies and interventions aimed at strengthening security across Oyo State and preventing future attacks on schools and communities.
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