The House of Representatives has called on the federal government to secure the release of the abducted schoolchildren and teachers in Ogbomoso “without further delay”.
The resolution was passed during Tuesday’s plenary following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by Olamijuwonlo Alao-Akala, who represents Ogbomoso North/Ogbomoso South/Oriire Federal Constituency in Oyo State.
The victims were kidnapped on May 15 when armed men attacked Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and LA Primary School in Ogbomoso, all within Oriire Local Government Area.
At least 45 pupils and teachers were reportedly taken during the attack.
On Monday, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) embarked on an industrial action in Oyo State, demanding immediate government intervention to rescue the victims.
Last week, President Bola Tinubu ordered the deployment of “a specialised security unit with advanced rescue capabilities” to facilitate their release.
Presenting the motion, Alao-Akala condemned the killing of Michael Oyedokun, a mathematics teacher who was reportedly murdered by the kidnappers.
He described the beheading as a “barbaric and savage act” that requires an “immediate and decisive response from every arm of government”.
“As we sit in the comfort of this chamber, mothers in Oriire are sleepless, fathers are broken, and children still in the hands of their captors are crying out for a rescue that has not yet come, and that every passing hour of their captivity is an hour of unbearable agony for families who do not know whether their loved ones are alive or dead,” he said.
Bamidele Salam, representing Ede North/Ede South/Ejigbo/Egbedore Federal Constituency of Osun State, lamented the growing insecurity around educational institutions.
“The abduction of school children, which started with the kidnapping of Chibok girls a few years ago, is becoming a trend. One of the keys to liberating a people is education, and if that key is in the hands of killers, then there is a problem,” he said.
“As leaders, we need to attend to this issue with a sense of urgency. Most of the children of the leaders attend private schools, some of them outside the country.
“The children of the poor attend public schools, but we cannot close our eyes to the plight of the children of the poor.”
He also urged the government to establish a dedicated security force for schools nationwide.
Meanwhile, Benedict Etanabene, a lawmaker from Delta State, called on the National Assembly to complete the constitutional process required for the establishment of state police.
Following a voice vote conducted by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, the motion was unanimously adopted.
The House subsequently urged the federal government to establish a permanent military base in the area to curb banditry and other criminal activities around the Oyo National Park and neighbouring communities.