The Nigerian Senate resumed from its Sallah break, lawmakers turned their attention to the kidnapping of Oyo students and teachers. The Senate commiserated with the state government and affected families, and urged law enforcement agencies to leave no stone unturned until the victims are returned, Ekuson Nw’Ogbunka, consulting editor writes from Abuja. Excerpts.
The Nigerian Senate resumed plenary on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, after a four-week Sallah recess that sent lawmakers back to their constituencies for party primaries. But the mood at the hallowed chamber was anything but celebratory. President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, set the tone with a sombre address that acknowledged the weight of national grief.
A statement by Akpabio’s Special Assistant on Media and Communication, Anietie Ekong, captured the Senate President’s opening words to his colleagues. “Friends and colleagues, we resume our work under the mournful shadow of a tragedy that has shaken our nation,” Akpabio told the chamber. The tragedy he referenced was the recent abduction of teachers and students by bandits in Oyo State.
Akpabio did not mince words about the gravity of the attack. “The abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State is not merely an attack on innocent citizens; it is an assault on our collective humanity,” he said. In his view, the incident struck at the heart of Nigeria’s social contract.
He then laid out the stakes in stark terms. “We mourn because if we cannot protect our children we imperil our future. We mourn because a nation that cannot guarantee the safety of its teachers weakens the very foundations upon which education rests. And we mourn because, for as long as those children remain in captivity, our nation remains captive with them,” the Senate President lamented.
The Senate leader paused to honour the lives lost in the attack. “Today, we grieve the loss of two dedicated educators: Mr. Michael Oyedokun, who died in captivity, and Mr. Adesiyan Adegboye, who lost his life during the attack. We also mourn the child whose life was cut short before its promise could be fulfilled,” he said.
Akpabio extended solidarity to the grieving families and the wider Oyo community. “We share the pain of the bereaved families. Their loss is our loss. Their sorrow is our sorrow. Their pain is our pain,” he declared, before assuring the chamber that rescue efforts were ongoing.
Despite the grief, the Senate President offered a measure of hope. He assured that through the determined efforts of the government and security agencies, those still in captivity would be safely rescued and reunited with their loved ones. The charge to security agencies was clear: redouble efforts and leave no stone unturned.
But Akpabio’s address went beyond condolences and rescue calls. He issued a stern warning to the political class against exploiting the tragedy. “At moments such as these, there is a temptation to divide, to accuse, and to seek advantage from tragedy. Politicians and aspirants must resist that temptation for such cheap publicity,” he cautioned.
He reminded lawmakers and the public that bandits do not discriminate. “Those who kidnap our children, terrorize our communities, and murder innocent citizens do not distinguish between party, faith, or ethnicity. Their assault is directed against Nigeria itself. Therefore, our response must be equal to the challenge. We must stand united, firm, and resolute,” Akpabio stated.
The Senate President then called for collective action to prevent a repeat. “Let us continue to support every lawful and necessary measure to strengthen security, protect our schools, safeguard our communities, and ensure that every bandit faces the full weight of justice,” he urged. For Akpabio, unity was the only viable path forward.
He closed with an official message of sympathy. “On behalf of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved families, the affected school community, and the Government and people of Oyo State,” Akpabio said. As the Senate resumes legislative duties, the fate of the abducted students and teachers will test the nation’s resolve and its security architecture.
