Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas on Wednesday called for a “careful, clinical, and timely” security operation to recover students and teachers kidnapped from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
In a statement issued in Abuja, Speaker Abbas called on security agencies to move with speed and precision while ensuring the safety of the abductees.
He praised the immediate intervention of Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu, who conducted an on-site assessment and deployed personnel to the area, the statement said.
“The safety of the abductees must be prioritised while the kidnappers should not escape unpunished by the law,” Speaker Abbas said.
Gunmen attacked Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School; and L.A. Primary School, Esiele, abducting scores of pupils and teachers, according to the Oyo State government.
Governor Seyi Makinde said seven students were taken from Community Grammar School, while 18 children and seven teachers were abducted from First Baptist Primary and Nursery School.
Governor Makinde also said one person was killed during the raids.
Authorities later reported that one of the victims, a mathematics teacher identified as Michael Oyedokun, had been killed.
Speaker Abbas called the attacks “unfortunate,” noting that they occurred at a time when Nigeria is struggling with a large population of out-of-school children.
He also advised that schools be maintained as among the country’s safest places and called for stronger security measures for educational institutions and other vulnerable facilities.
The Speaker extended sympathy to the families of the victims and prayed for the safe return of those still in captivity.
