Reps push for urgent action to rescue kidnapped pupils, call for state police

The House of Representatives on Tuesday called on the federal government and security agencies to step up efforts to rescue schoolchildren and teachers taken in Oyo and Borno states.

Members also repeated their calls for major changes in Nigeria’s security system, which includes creating state police and local policing units.

These resolutions came after lawmakers discussed two urgent motions that addressed the rising trend of school kidnappings and attacks on communities. They said these incidents pose a serious threat to education and public safety across Nigeria.

The first motion was put forward by Olamijuwonlo Alao-Akala (APC, Oyo). It focused on the kidnapping of pupils and teachers in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State, the murder of a schoolteacher named Michael Oyedokun, and the urgent need for reforms to tackle insecurity.

Mr Alao-Akala expressed deep concern about what he called the “unrelenting siege” on communities in Ogbomoso and Orire Local Government Areas. He linked the rise in insecurity to attacks near the Old Oyo National Park.

He recalled that on May 16, armed bandits stormed Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and L.A. Primary School, kidnapping over 30 pupils and teachers in broad daylight.

The lawmaker was particularly troubled by the murder of Mr Oyedokun, a mathematics teacher, who was reportedly beheaded while in captivity.

Mr Alao-Akala said he was “deeply disturbed by the barbaric execution of Mr Michael Oyedokun, a mathematics teacher, who was beheaded in captivity by his abductors, a savage act that has shocked the conscience of our nation and demands an immediate and decisive response from every arm of government.”

He noted that many victims still remain in captivity, leaving their families in pain and worry.

While he acknowledged the ongoing rescue efforts by security agencies and the federal government’s approval of 1,000 forest guards for the area, he insisted that stronger and more lasting security measures are needed.

He argued that the expansive forests around the Old Oyo National Park have become hiding spots for criminals, allowing terrorists and kidnappers to operate across state lines.

Mr Alao-Akala reminded the House that it had previously supported calls for decentralizing Nigeria’s security system through state police and local government policing units, as well as decentralized courts and integrated intelligence systems.

He stressed that delays in carrying out these reforms leave communities exposed to attacks.

Lawmakers want better security for schools

Bamidele Salam (Accord, Osun) joined the discussion. He warned that the kidnapping of schoolchildren is becoming a dangerous trend in Nigeria.

Mr Salam pointed out that school kidnappings gained international attention after the Chibok schoolgirls were taken in 2014. He noted that these attacks are increasingly hitting vulnerable communities across the country.

He called education a vital tool against poverty and ignorance, stating that attacks on schools threaten the future of many children.

The lawmaker urged the federal government to create a special security framework focused on protecting schools nationwide.

He said if the government can provide security for public officials, the same should apply to pupils and teachers in public schools.

“We cannot afford to close our eyes to the realities of the dangers that our children and the teachers face today in Nigeria,” he said.

Mr Salam also criticized the lack of funding for past school security programs and asked authorities to act more urgently.

Etanabene Benedict (PDP, Delta) also spoke about the alarming state of insecurity in the country. He said citizens now live in constant fear.

He renewed calls for state police, arguing that governors should have the power to deploy local security resources, including modern technologies like drones, to tackle security issues in their areas.

Mr Benedict warned against making insecurity a political issue, saying that political narratives could distract from real efforts to solve the crisis.

“Slaughtering of people has become normal to our lives. This is not how it was before,” he said.

He sympathized with families whose children are still missing, describing their situation as unbearable.

Borno lawmakers alert on new kidnappings

In another motion, Midala Balami (APC, Borno) raised alarms about the reported kidnapping of 42 schoolchildren from communities in Borno State.

Mr Balami said constant attacks on schools and communities in the state threaten education, risk lives, and weaken public trust in the government.

He reminded everyone of the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls' abduction, many of whom are still missing. He mentioned several mass kidnappings in Borno State.

According to him, ongoing insecurity is causing a drop in school enrolment and attendance in vulnerable areas, while increasing fear among residents.

The lawmaker emphasized the need for coordinated efforts to free all those kidnapped and restore faith in the government's ability to protect lives and property.

“Our children deserve to learn in an environment free from fear. Our citizens deserve the assurance that government will act decisively to protect lives and property. The time for action is now,” he said.

House resolutions

After discussions on the motions, the House agreed to urge the federal government and all security agencies to work harder to free all abducted pupils, teachers, and others in captivity.

Lawmakers also called on the federal government to set up a permanent military base in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State to improve security around the Old Oyo National Park and surrounding communities.

The House repeated its support for implementing a decentralized security system, including state police, local government policing units, decentralized courts, and an integrated intelligence and surveillance network.

Additionally, lawmakers pushed for better security around schools in Borno State and other vulnerable regions, including improved intelligence gathering and quick response measures.

The House also called for expanding school protection programs through early warning systems, community-based security efforts, and security awareness campaigns.

Committees on Defence, Interior, Police Affairs, National Security, Basic Education, and Legislative Compliance were tasked with working with security agencies, overseeing the implementation of these resolutions, and reporting back to the House.

Before concluding the motion, members observed a minute of silence for Mr Oyedokun, victims of kidnapping and banditry across Nigeria, and security personnel who have lost their lives in the fight against insecurity.