Senate donates ₦50m to families of Oyo kidnap victims

The Senate has approved a ₦50 million donation to the families of the teachers and security operatives who lost their lives during the rescue of abducted pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the donation during Wednesday’s plenary while commending President Bola Tinubu, the Nigerian military and other security agencies for successfully rescuing the abducted victims after 56 days in captivity.

“We’re offering 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, ₦10 million each,” he stated.

Two teachers, Michael Oyedokun and Pastor John Olaleye, were killed by their abductors while in captivity. During the rescue effort, three security guards were also slain in different gunfights with the abductors.

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

According to Akpabio, the financial support was meant to assist the children and dependants left behind by the deceased. He also sympathised with their families and directed Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele to oversee the presentation of the cheques.

Following the rescue operation, senators observed a minute’s silence in honour of the slain teachers and security personnel and extended their condolences to the bereaved families.

The lawmakers also advised Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde against calling for an international investigation into the kidnapping, arguing that such a move could undermine the Federal Government’s ongoing efforts to combat insecurity.