The Senate has called on the Federal Government, through all relevant security agencies, to intensify efforts and deploy all necessary resources for the immediate rescue of the 45 victims still in captivity following the abduction of 49 people in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The Red Chamber also urged the government to strengthen and expand the Safe Schools Initiative, through enhanced surveillance, intelligence gathering and improved security deployment around vulnerable schools.
The resolutions followed the consideration of a motion, titled: “The Abduction of School Children, Teachers and a Toddler in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State”, sponsored by Senator Buhari Abdulfatai (APC Oyo North) during Wednesday’s plenary.
Leading debate on the motion, Senator Buhari told the Senate that armed kidnappers abducted 49 people, comprising school children, teachers and a toddler, in Ahoro-Esiele and adjoining communities of Oriire Local Government Area.
He said three victims were shot, one beheaded, while 45 remain in captivity.
“The victims were abducted from a learning environment which ought to symbolize safety, hope and the future of our nation,” Senator Buhari said.
He described the killing of Mr. Michael Oyedokun, a Mathematics teacher, who was beheaded and recorded on video, as “a most barbaric act, which has struck fear into the people of the state, and Nigerians at large.”
Expressing deep disturbance that a toddler is among those in captivity, Senator Buhari said the incident underscores “the cruelty and inhumanity of the perpetrators.”
“When schools become hunting grounds for criminals, the future of the nation itself is imperiled,” he warned, noting that the attack has generated anxiety and public outrage over the safety of schools and rural communities.
“Mr. President, Distinguished Colleagues, it is sad that these criminals and evil-minded people are now everywhere in our country therefore, we should beef up security in the country to secure lives and properties of our citizens,” the lawmaker said.
The Senate accordingly condemned the abduction and commiserated with affected families and the Oyo State Government.
It acknowledged the visit of a Federal Government delegation led by the Chief of Staff to the President, alongside the National Security Adviser, the Minister of Defence and the Inspector-General of Police, to Oriire LGA on Sunday, May 31, 2026, to commiserate with families of the victims.
Some senators, who contributed to the motion, condemned the abduction and urged all security agencies to intensify their efforts in rescuing the victims still in captivity.
In his remarks, the Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who presided over the plenary, commended the federal government for the actions taken so far on the incident and charged the security agencies to always justified the huge budget allocation to them for the safety of lives and property in the country.
