Honourable Adebo Ogundoyin, the Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly, has revealed that terrorists holding abducted schoolchildren and teachers from Oriire Local Government Area of the State are demanding weapons, money and concessions on future Nigerian laws as conditions for their release.
The lawmaker disclosed this while addressing the growing debate over whether governments should negotiate with kidnappers and terrorists to secure the freedom of victims.
Though, the revelation come weeks after terrorists attacked schools and communities in Esiele and Yawota, abducting pupils, teachers and residents and triggering nationwide outrage.
While questioning the wisdom of succumbing to the demands of the abductors, Ogundoyin suggested that the terrorists’ conditions go beyond the payment of ransom.
“To bring these children and teachers back, if it is up to you, will you negotiate with terrorists if terrorists ask for weapons, they ask for money, they ask for concessions on future laws of this land as part of their ransom?” he asked.
“If you were the governor, will you accept those ransoms? Will you accept that those people should be accepted into that community?”
The Speaker warned that negotiating with armed groups could strengthen their operations and encourage future attacks.
“The more you negotiate with these people, the more you embolden them,” he added.
Meanwhile, pressure has continued to mount on the Oyo State and Federal Governments to secure the release of the schoolchildren and teachers abducted during coordinated attacks.
The abductions have sparked emotional appeals from parents and relatives, many of whom have repeatedly called on authorities to rescue their children alive.
