The Oyo State House of Assembly has called for urgent measures to strengthen security in public and private schools across the state following the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area.
The lawmakers made the call during plenary on Tuesday while deliberating on a motion sponsored by the member representing Ibadan South-West State Constituency II, Hon. Oluwafemi Oluwafowokanmi, who expressed concern over the growing insecurity facing educational institutions.
The legislative intervention comes in response to the recent kidnapping of students and teachers from Community High School, Esiele, and L.A. Primary School, Yawota, in Oriire Local Government Area, an incident that has heightened fears among parents, teachers, and education stakeholders across the state.
Presenting the motion, Oluwafowokanmi noted that schools, particularly those located in rural communities, have increasingly become vulnerable targets for kidnappers and other criminal elements, posing a serious threat to access to education.
According to him, persistent attacks on schools could discourage parents and guardians from enrolling their children in public schools, thereby affecting educational opportunities for children from low-income families who rely heavily on government-owned institutions.
He stressed the need for proactive measures to prevent a recurrence of the Oriire incident and advocated the deployment of trained security personnel to schools, especially those situated in remote communities and areas bordering forests.
The House subsequently commended Governor Seyi Makinde for his continued support for security agencies and efforts aimed at protecting lives and property across the state.
As part of its resolutions, the Assembly urged the state government to commence the phased deployment of personnel from the Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun Corps) to public and private primary and secondary schools, with priority given to schools located in rural settlements, border communities, and areas adjoining forest reserves.
The lawmakers also directed the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), and the Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) to collaborate with Amotekun and other security agencies to conduct comprehensive security audits of public schools across the state.
In addition, the Assembly proposed the establishment of a School Security Initiative that would provide schools with dedicated security personnel, communication gadgets, emergency alert systems, and other critical security infrastructure to improve safety and emergency response.
The lawmakers further recommended the creation of emergency response and rapid intervention units within each education zone through collaboration among the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Amotekun Corps.
Recognising the importance of preparedness, the House urged education authorities to incorporate security awareness programmes and safety drills into school activities to equip learners with basic security knowledge and emergency response skills.
During deliberations, members of the Assembly observed that the current workforce of about 2,500 Amotekun personnel may be insufficient to effectively secure schools and communities across Oyo State, prompting calls for increased recruitment, improved welfare packages, enhanced logistics, and the provision of modern operational equipment.
The House also considered the report of an ad hoc committee established to review the implementation of the Oyo State Open Rearing and Grazing Regulation Law, 2019, and the Amotekun Law. The committee identified operational challenges, including weak inter-agency collaboration and inadequate enforcement structures in some local government areas.
Among its recommendations were the immediate operationalisation of the Independent Amotekun Complaints Committee, continuous training for personnel on human rights and community policing, and improved coordination among security agencies.
The latest resolutions underscore growing concerns about the safety of schools in Oyo State and reflect renewed efforts by policymakers to safeguard learners, teachers, and educational institutions from security threats. Education stakeholders have expressed hope that the recommendations will be implemented promptly to restore confidence in the state’s school system and ensure a safe learning environment for all students.
