RismadarVoice Reporters
July 24, 2026
The Oyo State Government has described the life imprisonment handed to three persons convicted in connection with the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area as inadequate, saying the punishment does not reflect the gravity of the offence.
Despite its reservations, the government said it would respect the judgment of the Federal High Court and would not file an appeal.
The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, stated the government’s position while speaking with journalists in Ibadan following the court’s verdict.
It could be recalled that the Federal High Court in Abuja had sentenced three convicts to life imprisonment after finding them guilty of concealing information about those responsible for the kidnapping of pupils and teachers from schools in Oriire Local Government Area.
Reacting to the judgment, Oyelade described the sentence as “cold comfort,” arguing that the punishment failed to match the trauma suffered by the victims, their families and the state.
“The ruling is a cold comfort. We expected capital punishment for the convicts, as that would better reflect the gravity of abducting innocent schoolchildren and teachers,” he said.
The commissioner maintained that those who concealed information about the kidnappers should be regarded as culpable as those who carried out the abduction.
“It is myopic for anyone to try to create a wedge between the crime of concealment committed by these people and those who actually perpetrated the crime. Theythe same same,” he added.
While expressing dissatisfaction with the sentence, Oyelade said the state government would abide by the court’s decision.
“The government will not be appealing the judgment. While we have our reservations, we respect what the law has said,” he stated.
He, however, commended the Federal High Court for the speedy prosecution and conclusion of the case, describing it as a positive development for Nigeria’s justice system.
Oyelade also called for a review of the country’s anti-terrorism and other criminal laws to strengthen the legal framework for combating kidnapping, terrorism and other emerging security threats.
According to him, stricter legislation, combined with prompt prosecution and effective enforcement, would serve as a stronger deterrent against criminal activities.
The commissioner disclosed that the Oyo State Government worked closely with the Federal Government, security agencies and prosecutors throughout the investigation and prosecution of the case to ensure those involved were brought to justice.
On efforts to prevent similar incidents, Oyelade said security around schools had been strengthened through the Oyo State Security Network Agency, codenamed Amotekun Corps, in collaboration with other security agencies.
“We are not relenting. Security around schools has been strengthened through Amotekun and other security agencies. Even where there is no visible physical presence of security personnel in every school, intelligence gathering and rapid response mechanisms have been enhanced to improve the safety of schools,” he said.
The commissioner also dismissed claims that the government had abandoned the rescued victims and their families, insisting that support for them had remained consistent.
He assured residents that the state government would continue to prioritise the safety of schools and work with relevant agencies to prevent future attacks.
