The Senate on Tuesday called on the Federal Government to sustain and strengthen military and intelligence operations against terrorists, kidnappers, bandits and other criminal groups following the successful rescue of pupils and teachers abducted from Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Lawmakers also urged the government to ensure the immediate payment of death benefits, insurance claims, pensions and other entitlements to the families of security personnel who lost their lives during the rescue mission. They further called for improved welfare, training, equipment and operational support for the Armed Forces and other security agencies.
The resolutions followed a motion sponsored by Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, and co-sponsored by 108 senators after the victims regained freedom last Friday following 57 days in captivity.
Presenting the motion, Bamidele recalled that terrorists stormed schools in Oriire Local Government Area and abducted 39 pupils and seven teachers, throwing families and communities into weeks of fear and uncertainty. He described the attack as a dangerous expansion of organised criminal activities into the South-west and a direct assault on children’s right to education.
He noted that President Bola Tinubu immediately directed the Armed Forces and intelligence agencies to deploy every available lawful resource to secure the release of the victims.
According to him, the rescue operation involved weeks of intelligence gathering and coordinated military action, culminating in the successful rescue of the victims on July 10. The operation led to the arrest of eight suspected terrorists, while several others were neutralised.
Bamidele, however, disclosed that two abducted teachers, identified as Michael and Dacon, died while in captivity. He described the successful rescue of the remaining victims as a major achievement that restored public confidence in the country’s security agencies.
He also paid tribute to Lieutenant F. A. Isaac, Private Silas Musa and Sergeant Abena John Jerome, who died during the operation, while Lance Corporal Adamu Hussain sustained injuries.
Senator Fatai Buhari, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, who seconded the motion, described the day of the abduction as a “Black Friday” for his constituency. He recounted visiting the rescued victims in hospital, where some were receiving oxygen and intravenous treatment before making significant recovery within 24 hours.
Senator Adamu Aliero praised the military for the successful mission but appealed for similar efforts to secure the release of other children still being held captive in Borno and Yobe states.
Former Edo State Governor, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, criticised Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde’s call for a United Nations-led investigation into the abduction, arguing that such a proposal could undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty and the credibility of local security institutions.
On her part, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan urged the government to provide trauma counselling, psychological support and rehabilitation programmes for the rescued pupils and teachers to aid their recovery.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session, commended President Tinubu’s efforts in tackling insecurity and assured him of the Senate’s continued legislative support for initiatives aimed at restoring peace nationwide.
The Senate thereafter resolved that the Federal Government should provide modern equipment, surveillance technology, improved intelligence capabilities and better logistics for security agencies to strengthen ongoing operations against criminal elements.
Lawmakers also encouraged Nigerians to support security agencies through intelligence sharing and cooperation, stressing that defeating terrorism and banditry requires collective national commitment.
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