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The Federal Capital Territory FCT minister Nyesom Wike on Thursday embarked on final inspection of Kuje airport road before commissioning.

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Members of the Oyo State House of Assembly have rejected calls for the state government to negotiate with kidnappers over the rescue of pupils and teachers abducted in Ogbomoso.

The lawmakers said the focus should be on intensified rescue operations, intelligence-led security action and sustained pressure on the abductors until the victims are freed.

Speaking during plenary on Wednesday, the Speaker of the Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin, warned that negotiating with kidnappers could encourage further attacks and strengthen criminal networks.

He said although the families of the victims were going through painful moments, residents should continue to support the efforts of security agencies and the state government.

According to him, engaging armed groups could send the wrong signal and worsen the security situation.

The lawmakers’ position followed the May 15 attack on three schools in Oriire Local Government Area, where suspected bandits abducted about 39 pupils and seven teachers.

The crisis deepened after one of the abducted teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was killed by the abductors.

In a recent video, Rachael Alamu, principal of Community High School, Esiele, who is among the abductees, pleaded for urgent intervention after the kidnappers reportedly threatened to kill another victim.

The House urged the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board to immediately assess schools located near forests and border communities.

The lawmakers called for solar-powered lighting, perimeter fencing, surveillance cameras and a comprehensive emergency response framework for high-risk schools.

The Assembly also mandated its Committee on Security and Strategy to visit Oriire Local Government Area for an on-the-spot assessment and recommend urgent legislative action.

The resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by Johnson Ogundele, lawmaker representing Oriire State Constituency.

Ogundele said Oriire had suffered repeated attacks since January, including an assault on the National Park Service office in Oloka village, where five forest guards were killed.

The lawmaker commended Governor Seyi Makinde for deploying security operatives and visiting affected communities.

He, however, urged the government to increase support for security agencies and consider establishing a permanent military presence around vulnerable communities and forest corridors.

Majority Leader Sanjo Adedoyin, who seconded the motion, also called on the Federal Government to accelerate plans for state police.

The debate came amid growing concern over insecurity in Oyo State, including Wednesday’s abduction of Olaide John-Paul, younger sister of former Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu, and her twin sons in Ibadan.

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Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has revealed that security operatives foiled an alleged terror plot by about five youths who were planning to bomb the Ondo State Government House.

Aiyedatiwa made the disclosure on Wednesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, shortly after a Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced four persons to death by hanging over their involvement in the June 5, 2022 terrorist attack on Saint Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.

The governor said the suspects were arrested several months ago following intelligence reports received by security agencies.

According to him, the suspects had stocked bomb-making materials and other equipment in a hotel where they were lodged before security operatives moved in and thwarted the alleged attack.

Aiyedatiwa explained that personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and the Ondo State Security Network Agency, also known as Amotekun Corps, acted on the intelligence, raided the hotel and arrested the suspects before they could execute their plans.

He noted that the five suspects remain in detention while investigations continue.

The governor said intelligence available to security agencies indicated that the group intended to target the Government House, although the exact motive behind the alleged plot remains unclear.

Aiyedatiwa cited the incident as an example of ongoing efforts by security agencies to prevent attacks and maintain security across the state, insisting that isolated security breaches should not overshadow the work being done by law enforcement authorities.

“We have been doing so much. I will give you an example. I think it’s about three or four months ago, some youth, about five of them, they wanted to bomb the government house,” the governor said.

“They were in their hotel, they didn’t move into a rented apartment, and they have all the equipment, all the gadgets.

“We got an intelligence report, and the police, and Amotekun moved in, busted them in the house, where they were arrested.

“They are still in detention right now. Their mission was to bomb the Government House. For what reason? Only God knows. So we are working, like I said, maybe one incident happened and it doesn’t mean that we have not been working.”

His comments come amid renewed discussions on security in Ondo State following the conviction and sentencing of four persons linked to the deadly Owo church attack, which claimed the lives of more than 40 worshippers and left over 100 others injured.

The June 2022 attack remains one of the deadliest terrorist incidents recorded in the South-West region, with authorities continuing efforts to strengthen security and prevent similar attacks.

In April, the media reported that the Ondo State Police Command said its operatives foiled a suspected attempt to bomb key government facilities in Akure, the state capital, and other parts of the state, and arrested six individuals allegedly linked to the operation.

The police said the suspects had secretly moved into the state after allegedly conducting surveillance and identifying strategic targets for the planned attacks using Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

Speaking at a press briefing at the command headquarters, the Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, disclosed that security operatives acted swiftly on intelligence reports, leading to the interception of the suspects before the plan could be executed.

Lawal said that the operation resulted in the arrest of six suspects and the recovery of items believed to be used in the fabrication of explosive devices.

The police identified the suspects as 56-year-old Adekunle Prosper, 39-year-old Ojo Olumide, 40-year-old Tope Kolawole, 40-year-old Ahmed Salihu, 40-year-old Bolaji Adebowale, and 43-year-old Gbadebo Abidemi.

Detailing the items recovered, the police commissioner said, “A thorough search of the scene and a subsequent operation at the suspects’ apartment resulted in the recovery of a cache of items, including 217 bottles, a bag of sugar, criminal charms, 17 mobile phones, the sum of N187,000, two HP laptops, eight slings, one knife, an external hard drive, two identity cards, one National Identity Number (NIN) card, and two motorcycles, among other items.”

Lawal noted that preliminary assessments indicated that some of these materials were intended for the construction of explosive devices, while others may had been used to facilitate coordinated criminal activities.