Senate on Tuesday identified three security personnel who lost their lives and another who was injured during the military operation that rescued abducted pupils and teachers from terrorists in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State after 56 days in captivity, urging the Federal Government to sustain military operations against terrorists, kidnappers and bandits across the country.
The Senate also called for prompt payment of death benefits, insurance claims, pensions and other entitlements to the families of the fallen personnel.
The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and co-sponsored by 108 senators.
Rescued Oyo school children and teachers
According to the Senate, those killed during the operation were 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. Lance Corporal Adamu Hussain of the 81 Battalion sustained injuries during the operation.
Bamidele said terrorists had abducted 39 pupils and seven teachers in Oriire LGA, describing the incident as a direct attack on children’s right to safe education and a troubling spread of organised criminality into the South-West.
He noted that President Bola Tinubu directed the Armed Forces and other security agencies to deploy all lawful military assets to secure the unconditional release of the victims.
The intelligence-led operation, which lasted more than 50 days, led to the rescue of the victims on July 10, the arrest of eight suspected terrorists and the neutralisation of several others.
Bamidele disclosed that one of the abducted teachers died while in captivity but described the successful rescue of the remaining victims as a remarkable achievement that restored public confidence in the nation’s security efforts.
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 said he visited the rescued victims in hospital, noting that although some children were on oxygen and drips shortly after their release, they recovered significantly within 24 hours.
The Senate urged the Federal Government to strengthen military and intelligence operations through improved equipment, surveillance technology, logistics, intelligence gathering and better welfare for security personnel.
Lawmakers also called on Nigerians to support security agencies with timely intelligence and cooperation, while paying tribute to the fallen personnel and commending President Tinubu for his leadership during the rescue operation.
