Oyo lawmakers give ₦50m to families of teachers and security agents killed in abduction

The Senate announced on Wednesday that they will give ₦50 million to the families of those who died during the kidnapping of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area, Oyo State.

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, shared this news during a meeting. He praised President Bola Tinubu, the armed forces, and other security agencies for their efforts in rescuing the kidnapped children and their teacher.

Two of the three teachers taken by the kidnappers were killed. One of them, Michael Oyedokun, was beheaded shortly after being taken. The other teacher, a pastor named John Olaleye, was also killed while in the hands of the kidnappers.

Three security personnel lost their lives during the rescue operation in different gun battles with the kidnappers. The fallen officers were Lieutenant F. A. Isaac of the Nigerian Army, Private Silas Musa of the 81 Battalion, Nigerian Army, and Sergeant Abena John Jerome of the Nigeria Police Force.

Mr Akpabio mentioned that each of the five families affected would receive ₦10 million to help support the children and dependents left behind by those who died.

“We’re giving ₦50 million to be shared among the five families of the deceased, ₦10 million each for the families of the two teachers and the three operatives who lost their lives,” he said.

He expressed his sympathy to the families of the deceased and instructed Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, to handle the presentation of the cheques.

The abducted schoolchildren and their teacher were rescued last Friday, July 10, in a well-planned operation by the military and other security agencies after spending 56 days in captivity.

The rescue mission and the deaths of the teachers and security officers were discussed during the Senate meeting on Tuesday. Senators held a minute's silence in their honour and offered condolences to their families.

The lawmakers also advised Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde against calling on foreign human rights groups to look into the situation of the abduction. They argued that asking for help from international organizations, especially the United Nations, could weaken the federal government’s efforts to fight insecurity.