Oriire abduction: Senate commends Tinubu, seeks rescue of other victims

The Senate has formally commended President Bola Tinubu for the rescue of the kidnapped Oriire schoolchildren and their teachers, describing the operation that secured their freedom as a demonstration of committed leadership.

The Senate also commended the Armed Forces, as well as the security and intelligence agencies, for the success of the operation.

It paid tribute to the servicemen who lost their lives during the operation and prayed for the speedy recovery of personnel who sustained injuries.

The Senate took the action in Abuja on Tuesday following a motion moved by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, and unanimously endorsed by all senators.

“The Senate commends His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for his decisive leadership, strategic direction, and unwavering commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture,” one of the key prayers of the motion reads.

The heads of all security agencies and personnel involved in the operation were similarly commended for their gallantry and bravery, while the Senate also mourned the servicemen who died in the course of the operation.

ALSO READ: Kano Assembly sets up committee to probe encroachment on agricultural lands

However, the Senate rejected the call by the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, on the United Nations to investigate the circumstances surrounding the abduction of the children and their 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 came as an additional prayer proposed by former Edo State governor, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who urged the Senate to disregard the Oyo governor’s position.

Oshiomhole described the call as “most unstatesmanlike” and said it amounted to “downgrading the sovereignty of Nigeria” by asking the UN to investigate the abduction and the government’s response.

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

However, while senators praised the rescue operation, a major issue that dominated their contributions was the need to secure the freedom of all victims still being held captive in other parts of the country.

The lawmakers pointed out that several cases of school abductions and kidnappings remain unresolved, urging the government and security agencies to deploy the same level of commitment shown in the Oriire operation to rescue other 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 and 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 schools in Kebbi, Kaduna, Katsina and other states had also been affected by kidnappings, urging the government to “redouble their efforts to rescue abductees.”

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

The senators also called for compensation for servicemen who either lost their lives or sustained injuries during rescue operations.

They recommended that such compensation should not be limited to those involved in the Oriire school rescue operation but should be extended to all security personnel who suffered losses in previous operations.