The Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, has described the successful rescue of the remaining Oriire school abductees as a collective victory for the federal government, state authorities, and the Nigerian public.
In an official statement released on Friday, the Speaker noted that the safe return of the pupils, teachers, and other victims has brought relief and joy to the affected families and communities across the state. He stated that the outcome marked the end of a painful ordeal and demonstrated the capacity of coordinated Oyo State security operations.
“I warmly welcome the cheering news of the safe rescue of the abducted pupils, teachers and other victims from Oriire Local Government. This development brings immense relief, renewed hope and joy to their families, their communities and indeed all lovers of peace across Oyo State. We are grateful that what began as a painful ordeal has ended with their safe return,” Ogundoyin said.
Executive Collaboration and Inter-Agency Synergy
The Speaker commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for providing critical resources to federal forces during the search operations. He also praised Governor Seyi Makinde’s leadership for maintaining an active role throughout the crisis, highlighting the Governor’s sustained collaboration with federal security institutions to secure the release of the Oriire school abductees.
The rescue operation involved a joint force comprising the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). These federal agencies operated alongside the Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun Corps), local vigilance groups, intelligence operatives, and traditional hunters.
According to Ogundoyin, the successful tracking and safe retrieval of the Oriire school abductees underscores the importance of institutional synergy, proving that cooperation between federal agencies and community-based security structures is vital to addressing internal security threats.
Speaker Renews Advocacy for Constitutional Reforms
While celebrating the successful rescue mission, Ogundoyin warned against complacency and argued that existing security challenges necessitate structural changes in national policing. He stated that the operational realities of protecting vulnerable communities present a strong case for state police.
The Speaker urged the National Assembly to accelerate the ongoing constitutional amendment process regarding policing structures. He maintained that decentralising the police force would improve local intelligence gathering, quicken response times to security threats, and strengthen community-level crime prevention to prevent future incidents.
“The successful rescue of these victims is worthy of celebration, but it also reminds us that we must remain steadfast in our resolve to strengthen security across every part of our state and our nation. There is an urgent need to fast-track the establishment of State Police as part of broader efforts to address emerging security challenges and complement the efforts of existing security agencies,” Ogundoyin stated.
He expressed confidence that statutory state policing, managed within a robust constitutional framework, would significantly enhance internal security and provide more reliable protection for lives and property across the federation.
