The Oyo State House of Assembly has called for urgent measures to strengthen security in schools across the state following the recent abduction of students and teachers from Community High School, Esiele, and L.A. Primary School, Yawota, in Oriire Local Government Area.
The lawmakers made the call during Tuesday’s plenary after a motion was presented by the member representing Ibadan South West State Constituency II, Oluwafemi Oluwafowokanmi.
The Assembly urged the state government to deploy personnel of the Oyo State Security Network Agency, also known as Amotekun Corps, alongside the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to educational institutions across the state.
Presenting the motion, Oluwafowokanmi expressed concern over what he described as growing security threats around schools, noting that the recent incident in Oriire had heightened fears about the safety of students, teachers, and school facilities.
According to him, schools are increasingly becoming targets of criminal activities such as kidnapping, vandalism, and cult-related violence.
He said, “The present insecurity challenges in our nation, especially where schools are increasingly vulnerable targets for criminal activities, have become worrisome.”
The lawmaker warned that continued attacks on schools could discourage parents from enrolling their children in public institutions.
“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? 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,” he said.
Oluwafowokanmi added that deploying trained security personnel, particularly to schools located in rural and forest-border communities, would improve surveillance, strengthen intelligence gathering, and ensure swift responses to threats.
“Such measures would help restore the confidence of parents and guardians in the safety of their children and ensure that fear does not prevent access to education,” he stated.
The Assembly commended Governor Seyi Makinde for supporting security agencies and maintaining efforts to protect lives and property in the state.
Lawmakers unanimously called for the phased deployment of trained security personnel to both public and private schools, with priority given to institutions in rural communities, border areas, and locations close to forest reserves.
The House also urged the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, and the Teaching Service Commission to work with security agencies to conduct comprehensive security assessments of schools across the state.
As part of its recommendations, the Assembly advocated the establishment of a School Security Initiative that would provide dedicated security personnel, communication gadgets, emergency alert systems, and other protective infrastructure.
Lawmakers further proposed the enforcement of minimum security standards in schools, including perimeter fencing, controlled access points, and adequate lighting.
The House also called for increased public awareness under the “See Something, Say Something” campaign to encourage residents to report suspicious activities around schools and communities.
In addition, the Assembly recommended the creation of emergency response and rapid intervention units in every education zone through collaboration among the Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Amotekun Corps.
Members also suggested incorporating security education and safety drills into school curricula to improve students’ awareness and preparedness during emergencies.
During deliberations, lawmakers noted that the current workforce of about 2,500 Amotekun operatives may be inadequate to effectively secure all schools in the state. Consequently, they recommended the recruitment of additional security personnel, including trained local hunters and community-based operatives, to strengthen ongoing security efforts.
