The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has called for a “careful, clinical, and timely” rescue operation for students and teachers abducted from three schools in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Speaker Abbas, in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday, urged security agencies to ensure speed and precision in rescuing the victims while guaranteeing their safety.
He commended the immediate intervention of the inspector-general of police, Olatunji Disu, including the on-the-spot assessment and deployment of security personnel for the operation.
“The safety of the abductees must be prioritised, while the kidnappers should not escape unpunished by the law,” Abbas said.
Gunmen had attacked Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School; and L.A. Primary School, Esiele, in Oriire Local Government Area, abducting scores of teachers and pupils.
Governor Seyi Makinde disclosed that seven students were kidnapped from Community Grammar School, while 18 children and seven teachers were abducted from First Baptist Primary and Nursery School.
Makinde also revealed that one person was killed during the attack.
The abductors were later reported to have killed one of the victims, identified as mathematics teacher Michael Oyedokun.
Reacting to the development, Abbas described the attacks on schools as unfortunate, especially at a time when Nigeria is battling with a high number of out-of-school children.
“It is more unfortunate that schools are being attacked at a time when the country is struggling to enrol its massive out-of-school children population,” he said.
The speaker stressed that educational institutions should remain among the safest places in the country and called for stronger measures to secure schools and other facilities with vulnerable populations.
He also expressed sympathy to the families of the victims and prayed for the safe return of those still in captivity.
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