The Oyo State Government says the life imprisonment handed to three people convicted over the Oriire school abduction does not go far enough, arguing that the punishment falls short of the gravity of the crime. However, the state says it will respect the court's decision and will not file an appeal. cbinews.tv reports.

The Oyo State Government has described the life imprisonment handed to three persons convicted over the Oriire school abduction as inadequate, saying the punishment does not reflect the seriousness of the offence.

cbinews.tv reports that despite its reservations, the state government has made it clear that it will respect the judgment of the Federal High Court and has no plans to challenge the ruling.

The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, made the government's position known while speaking with journalists in Ibadan. He said the sentence failed to match the pain, trauma and fear experienced by the abducted pupils, teachers, their families and the people of Oyo State.

The Federal High Court in Abuja had sentenced the three convicts to life imprisonment after finding them guilty of concealing information about those behind the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area.

Reacting to the judgment, Oyelade described the verdict as "cold comfort", insisting that the state had expected a much stiffer punishment.

According to him, those who concealed information about the kidnappers should be held just as responsible as those who carried out the crime.

He maintained that there should be no distinction between those who planned the abduction and those who deliberately withheld information that could have helped security agencies prevent or solve the crime.

Although dissatisfied with the sentence, the commissioner stressed that the government would not appeal the judgment, noting that it respects the decision of the court and the rule of law.

Oyelade, however, commended the Federal High Court for concluding the trial without unnecessary delays, describing it as a positive sign that Nigeria's justice system can deliver timely justice.

He also called for a review of Nigeria's anti-terrorism and other criminal laws, arguing that tougher legislation and stricter enforcement are needed to effectively tackle kidnapping, terrorism and other emerging security threats.

The commissioner revealed that the Oyo State Government worked closely with the Federal Government, security agencies and prosecutors throughout the investigation and prosecution to ensure that everyone found culpable was brought to justice.

On efforts to prevent a recurrence, Oyelade said the government has strengthened security around schools through the Amotekun Corps and other security agencies.

He added that beyond the visible deployment of security personnel, intelligence gathering and rapid response systems have also been improved to enhance the safety of schools across the state.

The commissioner also dismissed claims that the government had neglected the rescued victims and their families, insisting that support for them has remained consistent since the incident.

According to him, the welfare of the victims remains a priority for the state government.

#OyoState #OriireAbduction #SchoolSecurity #DotunOyelade #Amotekun #FederalHighCourt #Kid

napping #NigeriaNews #CBINews #Justice