A chorus of outrage echoed through the Senate on Wednesday as lawmakers demanded the immediate rescue of dozens of schoolchildren, teachers, and other victims snatched by gunmen in Oyo State’s Oriire Local Government Area. The attack, they warned, is not just a crime—it is a direct strike on Nigeria’s future.
The upper chamber condemned the killing of a teacher during the May 15 assault on Ahoro-Esiele and neighboring communities, calling for a sweeping overhaul of school security. They urged the Federal Government to urgently expand the Safe Schools Initiative, ramping up surveillance, intelligence, and security deployments at vulnerable schools and communities nationwide.
The push came after Senator Abdulfatai Buhari (APC, Oyo Central) introduced a motion detailing the horror. Students and teachers were torn from what should have been a sanctuary of learning, he said, while a toddler was among those taken—a grim testament to the attackers’ brutality. “This is a direct assault on our nation’s future,” Buhari declared, warning that such insecurity risks crushing public faith in education and deepening fear in rural areas.
The Senate observed a minute of silence for the fallen teacher and other victims, expressing solidarity with the families, the people of Oyo, and the state government. Lawmakers then directed security agencies to deploy every resource to free the captives and prevent future attacks.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) demanded a forensic review of security budgets, calling on the National Assembly to tighten oversight and ensure funds are spent effectively. Senator Sunday Karimi (APC, Kogi West) urged state governments to step up, noting that ungoverned spaces across the country remain havens for criminals.
The Senate acknowledged a recent Federal Government delegation led by the Chief of Staff and top security officials to the affected community, but lawmakers stressed that action must follow words.
After plenary, Buhari appealed to Nigerians to avoid politicizing the tragedy. Rescue efforts are delicate, he said, given the number of children involved. Security agencies are working tirelessly, he added, but disclosing operational details could jeopardize their work. “Our focus must remain on bringing these children home safely and restoring confidence in our schools,” he said.
