Esiele/Yawota School Abduction: Oyo Lawmakers Oppose Calls For Negotiations With Kidnappers

 

 

By Akanni Toba

 

The  Oyo State Assembly has resolved not to take the easy way out of the predicament presented by the recent abduction of students and teachers of schools in Esiele and Yawota communities of the state despite the nationwide outrage sparked by the incident.

 

This is as members of the legislature unanimously rejected the strident calls for the state government to negotiate with kidnappers to ensure the release of the victims of the abduction.

 

The gale of abduction spreading across the country hit Ogbomoso, an ancient town in Oyo State, on May 15 when gunmen attacked three schools in the Oriire LGA, abducting about 39 students and seven teachers.

 

Two days after the abduction, a video surfaced online showing how one of the kidnapped teachers was gruesomely killed.

 

The teacher, identified as Michael Oyedokun, was beheaded.

 

The development further fuelled fear and apprehension over the fate of the remaining victims in the den of the bandits.

 

Meanwhile, days later another video was released online showing Rachael Alamu, principal of Community High School, Esiele, who is one of those in the clutches of the bandits, urging the government to eschew force but embrace negotiation to secure their release.

 

Alamu added that the bandits had threatened to kill another victim if government makes attempt to use military action rather than negotiation to wrest the abductees from their grip.

 

While the victims languished in the den of the bandits, Nigerians took to the streets in protest calling on authorities to secure the release of the abductees.

 

 

However, despite Alamu’s warning, the Oyo lawmakers at the plenary on Wednesday maintained that the priority should be intensified rescue operations rather than dialogue with the terrorists.

 

Breaking the ice on the distressing matter, Adebo Ogundoyin, speaker of the assembly, warned that any engagement with the kidnappers could encourage further attacks and strengthen criminal networks.

 

 

Explaining the reason for his position, Ogundoyin noted that while families of the victims are going through distressing times, residents should continue to support the efforts of security agencies and the Oyo state government in securing the release of the abductees.

 

The speaker further  argued that negotiation with armed groups risked sending the wrong signal and worsening the security situation.

 

He added that security agencies must remain committed to coordinated operations, intelligence-led interventions and sustained pressure on the abductors until the victims are freed.

 

Highlighting measures to prevent recurrence of such incident, the lawmakers jointly urged the ministry of education, science and technology alongside the Oyo state universal basic education board to immediately assess the security condition of schools located near forests and border areas.

 

 

 

They further called for the installation of solar-powered lighting systems, perimeter fencing and surveillance cameras in high-risk schools, as well as the introduction of a comprehensive emergency response framework for schools across the state.

 

The lawmakers further mandated its committee on security and strategy to visit Oriire LGA for an on-the-spot assessment and to propose urgent legislative actions.

 

The resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by Johnson Ogundele, the lawmaker representing Oriire state constituency, shortly after the house resumed from the Eid-el-Kabir recess.

 

The motion was titled “Urgent need for the executive arm of government through its security architecture to proactively nip in the bud the spike and recurring bandit attacks on Oriire communities since the beginning of 2026 and to intensify rescue and manhunt operations to secure the release of the abductees of the recent attack on Esiele, Oyo and Yawota communities”.

 

 

 

Ogundele noted that Oriire had faced repeated violent incidents since January, including an earlier attack on the National Park Service office in Oloka village, which left five forest guards dead.

 

He urged the government to scale up support for security agencies and consider establishing a permanent military presence around vulnerable communities and forest corridors.

 

Sanjo Adedoyin, majority leader of the house, seconded the motion, urging the federal government to speed up plans on the creation of state police.

 

The legislature’s resolutions come amid concern over the rising tide of kidnappings in different parts of the pacesetter state.

 

 

Earlier on Wednesday, gunmen abducted Olaide John-Paul, younger sister of Adebayo Adelabu, former minister of power, alongside her twin sons in Ibadan, the state capital.

 

Prior to that, some gunmen had reportedly stormed an immigration office in Ogbomoso, carting away guns and other ammunition.