The Oyo State House of Assembly has firmly rejected any proposals for the state government to enter into negotiations with the bandits responsible for the May 15 abduction of students at Ahoro-Esiele. ​
During a recent plenary session, lawmakers strongly countered suggestions of an amnesty or ransom negotiation, arguing that engaging with criminal elements only emboldens them and compromises state security. ​
Instead, the House has called on the state government and relevant security agencies to deploy direct, intensified tactical rescue operations to safely recover the victims and flush out criminal elements from the region.
Lawmakers unanimously agreed that negotiating with bandits sets a dangerous precedent for the state’s security architecture. The Assembly urged immediate collaboration between conventional security forces, local vigilantes, and Western Nigeria Security Network (Amotekun) for a decisive rescue mission.
The House demanded heightened security presence and intelligence gathering around vulnerable border communities, particularly near Ahoro-Esiele. ​The lawmakers emphasized that the primary duty of the government remains the protection of lives and property.
They urged the executive arm to provide security agencies with the necessary logistical support to execute a swift and successful rescue operation without yielding to the demands of the abductors. ​”We must not negotiate from a position of weakness.
Our focus must remain on strengthening our tactical operations and bringing these criminals to justice.” — Oyo State House of Assembly Statement.
