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• Reps task security agencies on rescue of abducted students, others
From Ndubuisi Orji and Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has urged unity of purpose among Nigerians to defeat banditry, declaring that those who terrorise communities do not distinguish between party, faith or ethnicity.
The House of Representatives has also charged security agencies to take urgent steps to ensure the rescue of abducted students and teachers in Oyo and Borno states, as well as others in captivity, across the country.
They made the call separately in their welcome address delivered on resumption from the Sallah recess at plenary in Abuja, yesterday.
Akpabio, who was reacting to recent cases of abductions in the country, said the Senate resumed plenary under the mournful shadow of a tragedy that has shaken the nation.
He said the abductions of school children and teachers in Oyo was not merely an attack on innocent citizens, but an assault on the collective humanity of the nation.
“We mourn because if we cannot protect our children we imperil our future.
“We mourn because a nation that cannot guarantee the safety of its teachers weakens the very foundations upon which education rests.
“And we mourn because, for as long as those children remain in captivity, our nation remains captive with them.
“Today, we grieve the loss of two dedicated educators, Mr. Michael Oyedokun, who died in captivity, and Mr. Adesiyan Adegboye, who lost his life during the attack.
“We also mourn the child whose life was cut short before its promise could be fulfilled. We share the pain of the bereaved families; their loss is our loss.”
Akpabio expressed hope that through the determined efforts of the government and security agencies, those still in captivity would be safely rescued and reunited with their loved ones.
After the senate observed a minute of silence in honour of the victims, Akpabio also on behalf of the Senate condoled the bereaved families, the affected school community, and the government and people of Oyo.
“At moments such as these, there is a temptation to divide, to accuse, and to seek advantage from tragedy.
“Politicians and aspirants must resist that temptation for such cheap publicity.
“Those who kidnap our children, terrorise our communities, and murder innocent citizens do not distinguish between party, faith, or ethnicity.
”Their assault is directed against Nigeria itself. Therefore, our response must be equal to the challenge. We must stand united, firm, and resolute.
“Let us continue to support every lawful and necessary measure to strengthen security, protect our schools, safeguard our communities, and ensure that every bandit faces the full weight of justice.
“The challenge before us is real, but so too is the courage of our people, the resilience of our institutions, and the enduring promise of Nigeria.
“Let us therefore approach the days ahead with collective resolve. Let us differ honestly, but remain united in our devotion to Nigeria.
“Let us continue to conduct ourselves with dignity so that future generations will say that when Nigeria faced difficulty, this Senate did not falter; when leadership was required, this Senate did not shrink; and when duty called, this Senate answered.”
Akpabio urged lawmakers to be mindful that they were not merely representatives of their constituencies, but custodians of the hopes and aspirations of Nigerians who looked up to the Senate for the realisation of a greater nation.
The House, while adopting a motion by Olamijuwonlo Alao-Akala, on abduction of students, in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State, also urged the Federal Government to establish a Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State, in addition to the 1000 forest guards, already approved for the state by President Bola Tinubu.
According to the lawmakers, this is necessary to ensure sustained security presence “across the Old Oyo National Park and its environs, so that this strategic frontier around the border corridors ceases to be a safe-haven for killers and a passage of terror into the South-West.”
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Similarly, the House, also adopted a separate motion by Usman Balami, calling on the federal government and security agencies, to immediately, rescue the 42 school children abducted from Mussa Ward, Askira-Uba Local Government Area, as well as all other persons currently held in captivity, across the country.
The parliament called for immediate and full implementation of its resolution on decentralisation of the country’s security architecture and creation of state and local government police, as well as an integrated intelligence and surveillance network.
The chamber observed a minute silence, in honour of the Oyo School teacher, late Mr. Michael Oyedokun, who was beheaded by bandits, and other victims of terrorism and banditry, including security personnel, who died in war against terror.
The House mandated its Committees of this House, Covering Defence, Interior, Police Affairs, and National Security, to jointly monitor the implementation of these prayers and report
progress to the full House within 30 days.
Alao-Akala, who represents Ogbomosho/Orire Federal Constituency of Oyo State, in his motion, informed the House that his constituents have been besieged as a result of attacks on the Old Oyo National Park since January 2025.
“The Old Oyo National Park and its surrounding forests are a vast, ungoverned wilderness straddling the border with Kwara State and opening onto international routes, a hidden highway through which these killers move freely, making the Orire axis the gateway through which terror is now creeping into the heart of the South-West.”
He also explained that the attacks in the area reached “ its most harrowing depths on the morning of 16th May 2025, when armed bandits descended upon Baptist Nursery and Primary School (Yawota), Community Grammar School (Esiele), and L.A. Primary School, dragging more than thirty of our children and their teachers into the forest in broad daylight, while terrified parents could only watch and weep.
The lawmaker expressed grief over “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.
“Mindful that as we sit in the comfort of this Chamber, mothers in Orire 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.”
Alao-Akala, while acknowledging rescue efforts by security forces, and the presidential delegation to Orire, as well as President Tinubu’s approval of 1000 forest guards, said there was need for expedited action, as the people want to stop burying their children.
Balami, while leading debate on his motion, called for increased security around schools nationwide, noting that they are losing interest in the ability of the government to tackle the security situation in the country.
“The situation has made people lose interest in school, especially boarding schools. I am so distressed. Our community is losing confidence in the ability of government to tackle insecurity in the country.
“The widespread security problem in Nigeria has become devastating. Our people are demanding a decisive action on security. If we cannot get anything from government, let us be alive. Let our children be alive.Our children deserve to learn in environments free from fear.”
Senate leadership working to address cases of senators who lost primary elections – Akpabio
Meanwhile, Akpabio has congratulated political parties that recently concluded their primaries and internal democratic processes and felicitates those who have secured the mandate of their parties to seek re- election.
“I know that there will always be victories and disappointments, yet above every individual triumph stands the greater triumph, the triumph of democracy itself.
He assured senators who lost their bid to secure their parties’ tickets for re-election that the leadership, led by Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, was working to reduce their number.
Akpabio said the Senate leadership had earlier assured senators that they would not be abandoned and was working to fulfil that promise.
According to figures from the primaries conducted by various political parties, 60 serving senators secured return tickets while 40 lost their bids.
Those who failed to secure return tickets include the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Lola Ashiru; Senators Jibrin Isah, Gbenga Daniel, Ned Nwoko, Abbas Aminu Iya, Kaila Samaila Dahuwa, Titus Zam, Emmanuel Udende, William Eteng Jonah, Neda Imasuen, Danjuma Goje, Francis Ezenwa, Musa Garba, Adeniyi Adegbonmire, Olajide Ipinsagba, Olubiyi Fadeyi Oluwole, Diket Plang and Ipalibo Harry Banigo, among others.
He also urged lawmakers to remain committed to their constitutional responsibilities and expressed confidence that the 10th Senate would continue to provide leadership in addressing the nation’s challenges.
“I felicitate particularly with those who have secured their mandates to represent their parties in the next election. I know that there will always be victories and disappointments, yet above every individual triumph stands a greater triumph, the triumph of democracy itself.
“And in this Senate, we are promised that we will have very few disappointments. And I do know that the Senate leader and the leadership of the Senate is working very hard towards that. So in advance, I will say congratulations to all of us across party lines.”
