The Oyo State House of Assembly has called for an immediate strengthening of security across public and private educational institutions in the state following the recent abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area.
The lawmakers also recommended far-reaching reforms to improve the effectiveness of the Oyo State Security Network Agency, codenamed Amotekun, while seeking better implementation of the state’s Open Rearing and Grazing Regulation Law, 2019, as part of broader efforts to tackle insecurity.
The resolutions were reached during Tuesday’s plenary following a motion moved by the member representing Ibadan South-West State Constituency II, Hon. Oluwafemi Oluwafowokanmi, who expressed concerns over the growing vulnerability of schools to criminal attacks.
The legislative intervention comes in the wake of the kidnapping of students and teachers from Community High School, Esiele, and L.A. Primary School, Yawota, both located in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Presenting the motion, Oluwafowokanmi noted that the recent security breaches had heightened fears among parents, teachers and education stakeholders regarding the safety of learners and school personnel across the state.
According to him, public schools, particularly those situated in rural communities, have increasingly become attractive targets for kidnappers, vandals and other criminal elements.
“The present insecurity challenges in our nation, especially where schools are increasingly vulnerable targets for criminal activities, have become worrisome,” he said.
The lawmaker warned that the growing threats to school safety could discourage parents and guardians from enrolling their children in public schools.
“What then will be the hope of children of the less privileged and low-income earners whose only available means of education lies in public schools?” he asked.
He stressed that the state could not afford to remain passive in the face of escalating threats to educational institutions.
“At this moment, we cannot afford to keep silent on the need to take proactive security measures that would prevent the recurrence of the Oriire school attack elsewhere in Oyo,” Oluwafowokanmi stated.
He advocated the deployment of trained security personnel to schools, especially those located in remote communities and areas bordering forests.
“The deployment of trained security personnel to schools, particularly those located in rural communities and areas bordering forests, would strengthen surveillance, improve intelligence gathering and guarantee rapid response to security threats,” he added.
According to him, such interventions would help rebuild public confidence and ensure that fear does not become a barrier to accessing education.
The House subsequently commended Governor Seyi Makinde for what lawmakers described as his unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives and property, as well as his continued support for security agencies operating within the state.
As part of its recommendations, the Assembly urged the executive arm of government to commence the phased deployment of Amotekun personnel to public and private primary and secondary schools, with priority attention given to schools in rural settlements, border communities and areas adjoining forest reserves.
The lawmakers further called on 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 all public schools in the state.
The House also proposed the establishment of a School Security Initiative that would provide schools with dedicated security personnel, communication gadgets, emergency alert systems and other essential security infrastructure.
In addition, legislators recommended the creation of functional emergency response and quick-reaction 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 Assembly urged authorities to integrate security education and safety drills into school curricula to equip students with basic safety knowledge and emergency response skills.
During deliberations, lawmakers observed that the current workforce of approximately 2,500 Amotekun personnel might be inadequate to effectively secure schools and communities across Oyo State.
The House also considered the report of an ad hoc committee established pursuant to a resolution passed on April 17, 2025, to assess the effectiveness and implementation challenges associated with the anti-grazing law and the Amotekun legislation.
Presenting the committee’s report, the Leader of the House, Hon. Sanjo Onaolapo, identified several institutional and operational gaps limiting the effectiveness of the laws.
Among the concerns raised was the concentration of enforcement structures in Ibadan, leaving several local government areas without adequate monitoring and enforcement mechanisms.
The committee observed that some structures envisaged under the law, including Local Government Advisory Committees, had yet to be fully established and operationalised.
The report also highlighted weak inter-agency collaboration involving Amotekun, the NSCDC and the Nigeria Police Force, resulting in overlapping responsibilities, communication gaps and occasional mistrust.
To address these concerns, lawmakers recommended the immediate operationalisation of the Independent Amotekun Complaints Committee, as provided under Section 23 of the law, to enhance transparency, accountability and public confidence in the corps.
The Assembly further advocated the strengthening of personnel registration and identification systems, continuous training on human rights principles, rules of engagement and community policing, and the development of formal operational agreements to improve coordination with other security agencies.
Other recommendations included improved welfare packages for Amotekun operatives, enhanced logistics support and the provision of modern operational equipment to boost the agency’s effectiveness.
The lawmakers also proposed the establishment of a compensation framework guaranteeing the payment of not less than ₦2.5 million in death benefits to the families of officers who lose their lives while on active duty.
In addition, the House called for all departments of the agency provided for under the enabling law to be fully established and made functional.
To ensure sustainable funding, the Assembly recommended a review of existing financial provisions to allocate a specific percentage of the Security Trust Fund toward strengthening Amotekun’s operational capacity.
The latest legislative action underscores growing concerns over the safety of schools in Oyo State, particularly in rural communities where limited security presence and proximity to forested areas have heightened vulnerability to attacks.
As authorities deliberate on the implementation of the recommendations, parents and teachers across the state continue to hope that concrete actions will follow, restoring confidence in the safety of schools and protecting the future of thousands of learners.
