Go after other bandits, terrorists nationwide, Senate tells FG

•Challenges FG to pay victims’ statutory death benefits, insurance claims, other entitlements

•Commends president, security agencies on rescued pupils, teachers. Cautions Makinde to stop trivialising govt’s efforts

The Senate, on Tuesday, asked the Federal Government to sustain and intensify ongoing military and intelligence operations against terrorists, kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements across the country as demonstrated in the recent rescue of kidnapped pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area, Oyo State.

The parliament, also the country tasked the government to ensure the prompt payment of all statutory death benefits, insurance claims, pensions, and other welfare entitlements due to the families of the fallen heroes and continue strengthening the welfare, training, equipment and operational capacity of members of the Armed Forces, and other security agencies.

This was contained in a resolution by the Senate, following the rescue of abducted students and teachers in Orire last Friday, after spending 56 days in terrorists’ captivity.

The Senate arrived at the resolution after due consideration of a motion sponsored by its Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele alongside 108 other senators, thereby commending the president for his decisive leadership, strategic direction and unwavering commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture.

Leading debate on the motion, Bamidele recalled how terrorists invaded schools in Orire, Oyo State abducting 39 pupils and seven teachers thereby subjecting innocent pupils, teachers, parents and entire to fear, anguish and emotional trauma.

Bamidele added that the abduction represented a disturbing expansion of organised criminal activities into the South-West, which constituted a direct attack on the right of every child to be educated in a safe and secure environment.

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Immediately after the attack was reported, according to Bamidele, President Bola Tinubu, mobilised the Armed Forces and all security and intelligence agencies to deploy every lawful military asset to secure the unconditional release of the victims.

He explained that the Armed Forces, in concerted efforts to rescue the abducted students and teachers, worked in close collaboration with intelligence and other security agencies to launch a painstaking, intelligence-driven, and highly coordinated rescue operation that lasted over fifty days.

He explained that the military campaign against the terrorists led to the ultimate sacrifice of Lieutenant F. A. Isaac (N/20349), Nigerian Army; Private Silas Musa (23NA/84/4604), 81 Battalion, Nigerian Army; and Sergeant Abena John Jerome (F/No. 234511), Nigeria Police Force.

While courageously defending the lives of innocent school children and their teachers, Bamidele revealed that Lance Corporal Adamu Hussain (16NA/75/6430), 81 Battalion, Nigerian Army, sustained injuries in the course of the operation

Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Fatai Buhari, seconded the motion, describing the day of the abduction as “Black Friday” in his senatorial district, saying it had been 56 days of agony until the victims were rescued.

Buhari observed that he was at the hospital to see the rescued pupils and teachers on the day the children and teachers were rescued, saying one of the children was on oxygen, while others were on drips, but within 24 hours, all of them were already on their feet.

The Senate further called on all Nigerians to continue supporting the Armed Forces and other security agencies through timely intelligence, cooperation and patriotism.

It paid glowing tribute to the memory of Lieutenant F. A. Isaac, Private Silas Musa, 81 Battalion, Nigerian Army, and Sergeant Abena John Jerome (F/No. 234511), Nigeria Police Force, who paid the supreme sacrifice during the rescue operation.

However, the Senate kicked against the call made by the Governor of Oyo State, Mr Seyi Makinde, on the United Nations to investigate the circumstances that led to the abduction of the children and the teachers.

It said the governor’s call was an attempt to “trivialise” the efforts of the Federal Government in tackling insecurity.

The reaction to Makinde’s call was taken as an additional prayer proposed by a former governor of Edo State, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who advised the Senate to ignore the Oyo governor.

Oshiomhole noted that it was “most unstatemanly” and also “downgrading the sovereignty of Nigeria“ by asking the UN to investigate the abduction and the efforts of the government.

“He should not be seen as undermining or downgrading an issue that we should commend the government for”, he added, as the Senate wholly passed the motion.

However, as senators praised the rescue, a major issue that dominated their comments was the urgency to secure the freedom of all victims held in captivity in other parts of the country.

The lawmakers pointed out that several school abductions and kidnapping of victims remained unresolved till date, urging the government and the security services to deploy the same energy used in the Oriire case in securing freedom for such victims.

“What the armed forces did is worthy of commendation. However, there are other children in captivity in other parts of the country, particularly in Borno, Yobe states.

“We have to put in efforts to free them too so that we can all be free of criminal activities”, Senator Adamu Aliero said.

He noted that some schools in Kebbi, Kaduna, Katsina, among others, had been victims of kidnapping, urging the government to “redouble their efforts to rescue abductees.”

Senators Victor Umeh, Mohammed Monguno and Titus Zam also shared the same view.