“No Parent Should Have to Fear School Drop-Off”: Oyo Assembly Demands Troops in Classrooms After Kidnappings.

After the shocking abduction of students and teachers from two schools in Oriire Local Government Area Community High School, Esiele, and L.A. Primary School, Yawota lawmakers in Oyo State have had enough. On Tuesday, they stood up in plenary and made one thing clear: schools must no longer be soft targets.

Hon. Oluwafemi Oluwafowokanmi, who represents Ibadan South West, pushed the motion. His words hit hard. He asked, “What happens to the children of poor families who can only afford public schools? If those schools aren’t safe, where is their hope?”

He and other lawmakers aren’t just asking nicely. They want armed operatives from Amotekun, the police, and other security agencies physically deployed to schools especially those in rural areas, near forests, or along borders. They also want security drills and safety awareness baked into the school curriculum, so kids know what to do when danger comes.

The Assembly gave Governor Seyi Makinde credit for his support of security efforts so far. But they also admitted a blunt truth: 2,500 Amotekun personnel cannot cover every school in the state. So they’re calling for more boots on the ground including trained local hunters and community security volunteers.

Their proposal goes further:

· Security audits for all public schools.

· A dedicated School Security Initiative with emergency alert systems and communication gadgets.

· Minimum safety standards for every school fences, controlled gates, proper lighting.

· A “See Something, Say Something” campaign to encourage neighbors to report suspicious activity.

· Quick reaction units in every education zone.

The message from the Assembly is simple and urgent: Protect the children now, or risk losing an entire generation’s education to fear.