Oriire Abduction: Senate donates N50m support for families of slain teachers, security operatives

The Senate has approved a N50 million donation to the families of five persons killed during the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the intervention during Wednesday’s plenary, praising President Bola Tinubu, the Armed Forces and other security agencies for securing the release of the abducted pupils and their teacher.

The beneficiaries include the families of two teachers who were murdered while in captivity and three security operatives who lost their lives during the rescue mission.

Among the slain teachers were Michael Oyedokun, whom the kidnappers beheaded, and John Olaleye, a pastor, who was also killed while being held hostage.

The fallen security personnel were Lieutenant F. A. Isaac (N/20349) of the Nigerian Army, Private Silas Musa (23NA/84/4604) of the 81 Battalion, Nigerian Army, and Sergeant Abena John Jerome (F/No. 234511) of the Nigeria Police Force.

Akpabio said each of the bereaved families would receive N10 million to assist the dependants left behind.

Read also: Senate backs troops, rejects Makinde’s call for UN probe of Oriire kidnap

“We’re extending a token of 50 million to be divided among the five deceased families. The families of the two teachers and the families of the three operatives who lost their lives, N10 million each,” he said.

The Senate President also conveyed the chamber’s condolences to the bereaved families and directed Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele to supervise the presentation of the cheques.

The abducted pupils and their teacher regained their freedom last Friday after a coordinated operation by the military and other security agencies, ending 56 days in captivity.

The incident dominated deliberations at Tuesday’s plenary, where senators honoured the deceased teachers and security operatives with a minute’s silence and expressed sympathy to their families.

The Senate also urged Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde to refrain from inviting foreign human rights organisations to investigate the incident.

According to the lawmakers, seeking the involvement of international bodies, particularly the United Nations, could undermine ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to address the country’s security challenges.