Orire School Abduction: Ogundoyin Defends Oyo Legislature’s ‘No Negotiation’ Stance, Reveals Terrorists’ Demands

By Akanni Toba

The speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin, has explained why the legislature under his leadership is unequivocally against negotiating with abductors of teachers and students of schools in both Esinele and Yawota communities in the pacesetter state.

Ogundoyin noted that many people urging the state government to negotiate with terrorists to secure release of the victims do not know the conditions given by the abductors.

The speaker spoke during a plenary session of the assembly on Wednesday.

While the speaker admitted that the distress of the families and friends, including the general public, on the matter is understandable, he stressed that accepting the terms and conditions given by the bandits will further embolden them.

According to Ogundoyin, the terrorists are demanding weapons, money and concession on future loss of the land as ransom.

The speaker said, “We will do everything that is necessary to bring back the abducted teachers and students. If it were up to you would you negotiate with terrorists asking for weapons, money and concession on future loss of this land as part of ransom?

He continued, “If you were the governor would you accept those conditions as ransom? Would you accept for those people to be integrated into the community?. You don’t know the details, the more you negotiate with these people the more you embolden them.”

In early May, gunmen attacked Nursery and Primary Schools and a Community High School in both Esiele and Yawota communities abducting 39 students and 7 teachers.

Two days after the abduction, the terrorists beheaded one of the kidnapped teachers identified as Michael Oyedokun.

Almost a week after the abduction, a video surfaced showing one of the victims, Mrs Alamu, a principal at Esiele Community  High School, pleading with the government at both state and national levels to embrace negotiation, instead of military operation, to secure their release.

According to Alamu, the terrorists had threatened to kill another of the victims in their clutches should the government launch a military operation against them.

The abduction sparked a two-day nationwide protests with demonstrators urging the government to do everything humanly possible to secure the victims’ release.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the members of the Oyo State House of Assembly opposed the calls for negotiation but rather highlighted measures to prevent recurrence of such kind of incident.

*NB: “concession on future loss of land” is a legal or compensatory agreement where a government, developer, or entity grants rights, alternative land, or financial compensation to someone who faces the potential displacement or acquisition of their property in the future.