By Adeyemi Adeleye
The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in Lagos State has condemned the abduction of students, teachers and school administrators in Oyo State, describing the incident as unfortunate.
The Lagos State Chairman of the party, Mr James Adeshina, spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.
Adeshina also condemned the reported killing of an abducted teacher Mr Michael Oyedokun, following the attack in communities near Ogbomoso town.
He described the incident as heart-breaking, condemnable and unacceptable in a civilised society.
The PRP chairman sympathised with the family of the deceased, affected schools and communities over the incident.
“The spate of abduction of students, teachers and school administrators across Nigeria has become a recurring thing and a sad fact that government at all levels is failing in its constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property.
“Nigerians are tired of repeated condolences without decisive action.
“Schools are supposed to be safe environments for learning, not hunting grounds for criminals and terrorists,” he said.
Adeshina said the latest incident had again exposed the weaknesses in the country’s centralised policing system.
According to him, the current security structure can not adequately address the present security challenges in the country.
The PRP chairman renewed calls for the establishment of state police with constitutional safeguards, accountability mechanisms and community oversight.
“I strongly believe the time has come for the Federal Government and the National Assembly to urgently revisit and implement state police.
“Security must become more localised, intelligence-driven and community-based to effectively tackle insecurity,” he said.
Adeshina, however, said state police alone would not solve the security challenges facing the country.
He urged government to invest more in intelligence gathering, surveillance technology and dedicated school protection units.
The chieftain also called for the recruitment and proper equipping of more security personnel, improved border security and enhanced rural policing.
The PRP chairman further urged government to address unemployment, poverty and social dislocation, which ,he said, adds to the problem of insecurity.
He stressed the need for swift prosecution of kidnappers and their sponsors to serve as deterrent to others.
Adeshina expressed concern that students and educators abducted during the attack were still in captivity days after the incident.
He urged security agencies and relevant authorities to act swiftly to secure their safe release without further loss of lives.
“Nigeria cannot continue to normalize mass abductions and insecurity. The protection of citizens must move from political promises to urgent and measurable action,” he said.
NAN recalls that gunmen on motorcycles on Friday attacked three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, abducting students, teachers and school administrators in Ahoro-Esinele and Yawota communities near Ogbomoso.
The affected schools are Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esinele; and L.A. Primary School, located within the same premises as the secondary school.
While several pupils, teachers and a school principal were abducted and held by the attackers in the forest, a teacher was reportedly beheaded in captivity.
Authorities have shut schools in the affected communities. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
AYO/BHB
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Edited by Buhari Bolaji
