Maha Christopher
The Nigerian Bar Association, Ibadan branch, has urged Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, to take urgent steps to address the increasing influx of people into the state following the recent abduction of teachers and students in Oriire Local Government Area.
According to The Punch, the association also called on the state government to regulate the activities of commercial motorcyclists, popularly known as Okada riders, to properly verify their identities.
In a statement issued on Monday by its Chairman, Ibrahim Lawal, the NBA expressed concern over the worsening security situation in the state after the abduction of teachers and students from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area.
The Punch reports that the victims were kidnapped during coordinated attacks on Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, Community Grammar School, and L.A. Primary School, Esiele, around 9:30 a.m. penultimate Friday.
Describing the attack as barbaric, the NBA said the perpetrators and their sponsors must be identified and brought to justice.
“This barbarism must not be allowed to have a foothold in an erstwhile peaceful environment,” the statement read.
The association urged both the Federal and Oyo State Governments to intensify efforts toward rescuing the abducted victims, expressing dissatisfaction with what it described as the slow pace of the rescue operation.
“The deafening silence attending the activities aimed at liberating the captives does not inspire hope,” the NBA stated.
The association also advised the Oyo State Government to consider temporarily suspending commercial motorcycle operations in order to verify the identities of operators and curb criminal activities.
“A suspension of their operations for a stipulated period to ascertain the identity of the operators should be considered,” the statement added.
The NBA further called for thorough combing of forest reserves to flush out criminal elements, warning that residents might resort to self help if insecurity continues unchecked.
