The Senate has approved a ₦50 million donation to the families of two teachers and three security personnel who lost their lives during the abduction and rescue operation involving pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Announcing the intervention during Wednesday’s plenary, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said each of the five bereaved families would receive ₦10 million as financial support from the upper legislative chamber.
The donation follows the successful rescue of the abducted pupils and teachers by security agencies after they spent about 56 days in captivity.
Three security operatives—Lieutenant F.A. Isaac, Sergeant Silas Musa and Private Abena John Jerome—were killed during the rescue mission, while two teachers, Michael Oyedokun and John Olaleye, lost their lives while in captivity.
‘A token from the Senate’
Akpabio recalled that the Senate had on Tuesday passed a motion commending President Bola Tinubu and the nation’s security agencies for the successful rescue operation.
He said lawmakers also acknowledged the sacrifices of the security personnel who paid the ultimate price in the line of duty.
“We also noted the fact that three of the personnel who went for rescue operations lost their lives in the course of trying to rescue those children,” Akpabio said.
“An army lieutenant from Adamawa was killed, a police sergeant was killed, another private soldier was killed, and many people were wounded.”
He further noted that two teachers abducted alongside the pupils did not survive the ordeal.
“We have taken the motion to applaud the government and the security agencies, and we are appealing that similar efforts be extended to every part of the country where Nigerians are being held captive,” he said.
“Today, after consultations with the leadership of the Senate, we resolved to also support the families of the victims. The young lieutenant was only 28 years old.
“We are sending a token of ₦50 million to be shared among the five bereaved families—the families of the two teachers and the families of the three security operatives who lost their lives. Each family will receive ₦10 million on behalf of the Senate.”
The proposal was unanimously adopted through a voice vote.
Akpabio thereafter directed Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele to oversee the presentation of the cheques to the affected families on behalf of the Senate
