Challenges Federal Government to pay fallen heroes’ benefits, insurance claims and other entitlements;
Commends President Tinubu, Armed Forces and security agencies for successful rescue of abducted Oyo pupils and teachers
The Senate on Tuesday urged the Federal Government to sustain and intensify military and intelligence operations against terrorists, kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements across the country, following the successful rescue of abducted pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The upper legislative chamber also called on the Federal Government to ensure the immediate payment of statutory death benefits, insurance claims, pensions and other welfare entitlements to the families of security personnel who lost their lives during the rescue operation.
The resolutions were adopted after the Senate considered a motion sponsored by the Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, and co-sponsored by 108 other senators, commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his leadership and commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture.
Leading the debate, Senator Bamidele recalled that terrorists invaded schools in Oriire Local Government Area, abducting 39 pupils and seven teachers, an incident that plunged the victims, their families and the nation into weeks of anxiety, fear and uncertainty.
He described the attack as a disturbing expansion of organised criminal activities into the South-West and a direct assault on every child’s constitutional right to education in a safe and secure environment.
According to him, President Tinubu immediately directed the Armed Forces and all relevant security and intelligence agencies to deploy every available lawful military asset to secure the unconditional release of the victims.
Bamidele explained that the Nigerian Armed Forces, working closely with intelligence and other security agencies, carried out a painstaking, intelligence-driven and highly coordinated rescue mission that lasted over 50 days before the victims were successfully rescued on Friday, July 10, bringing an end to 56 days of captivity.
He noted that the operation also led to the arrest of eight terrorists, while several others were neutralised during the military offensive.
The Senate Leader, however, disclosed that the operation came at a heavy cost, as Lieutenant F. A. Isaac of the Nigerian Army, Private Silas Musa of the 81 Battalion, Nigerian Army, and Sergeant Abena John Jerome of the Nigeria Police Force paid the supreme sacrifice while rescuing the abducted pupils and teachers.
He also revealed that Lance Corporal Adamu Hussain of the 81 Battalion sustained injuries during the operation.
Bamidele lamented that although one of the abducted teachers was killed during the period of captivity, the successful rescue of the remaining victims without further loss of life represented a remarkable achievement deserving national recognition.
He said the operation had restored hope and confidence among Nigerians, particularly parents and school communities, while sending a strong message that criminal elements would find no safe haven anywhere in Nigeria.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Fatai Buhari, who seconded the motion, described the day of the abduction as a “Black Friday” for his senatorial district.
He recalled visiting the rescued pupils and teachers at the hospital immediately after their rescue, noting that while some of the victims were initially placed on oxygen support and intravenous drips, they showed remarkable improvement within 24 hours.
In its resolutions, the Senate urged the Federal Government to sustain and intensify military and intelligence operations against terrorists, kidnappers, bandits and other criminal groups by providing modern equipment, advanced surveillance technology, improved intelligence capabilities, better logistics and enhanced welfare packages for members of the Armed Forces and other security agencies.
The Senate also called for the prompt payment of all statutory death benefits, insurance claims, pensions and other welfare entitlements due to the families of the fallen security personnel, while urging the government to continue strengthening the training, equipment and operational capacity of security agencies.
The lawmakers further appealed to Nigerians to continue supporting the Armed Forces and other security agencies through timely intelligence, cooperation and patriotism in the collective fight against insecurity.
The Senate paid glowing tribute to Lieutenant F. A. Isaac, Private Silas Musa and Sergeant Abena John Jerome for making the ultimate sacrifice in defence of innocent Nigerians, and commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what it described as his decisive leadership, strategic direction and unwavering commitment to improving Nigeria’s security architecture.
