President Bola Tinubu has urged the National Assembly to fast-track legislation establishing state police following the abduction of teachers and pupils in Oyo State and the reported killing of one of the kidnapped teachers by gunmen.

The President described the incident as horrifying and barbaric, warning that worsening insecurity in underserved communities had made decentralised policing increasingly necessary across the country.

Gunmen invaded the Esiele community in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State last Friday, abducting staff, students and pupils from Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School.

The attack sparked outrage after reports emerged that one of the abducted teachers was beheaded while efforts to rescue the remaining victims were still ongoing.

In a statement issued on Monday by presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu assured residents that security agencies were intensifying operations to secure the release of all those still in captivity.

According to him, “I am saddened by the reported killing of one of the teachers kidnapped by the gunmen who invaded the community.

Tinubu sympathised with Seyi Makinde, the Oyo State Government and the affected families, while commending the governor’s response to the crisis.

The President disclosed that the Federal Government was working closely with the Oyo State Government, the police and intelligence operatives to rescue the abducted victims and dismantle the criminal network behind the attack.

He praised the Inspector-General of Police for deploying tactical teams and operatives of the Intelligence Response Team to Oyo and neighbouring Kwara State as part of the rescue mission.

According to Tinubu, the police operation is being personally supervised by the IGP under presidential directives, with authorities deploying intelligence-driven and technology-backed strategies to locate the kidnappers.

He said the Federal Government is working with the Oyo State Government to rescue all the victims.

The IGP, following my instructions, is personally leading the tech-driven operation. We expect a breakthrough soon. The bandits and all their local collaborators will be fished out and made to face the full wrath of the law.”

The President said the latest kidnapping tragedy further strengthened arguments for the establishment of state police across Nigeria, insisting that localised security structures were necessary to protect vulnerable communities.

Cases of kidnapping further make imperative the establishment of state police to man some of our underserved areas.

The National Assembly should accelerate the enactment of the law creating state police,” Tinubu stated.

The incident has heightened fears among residents in parts of Oyo State, especially communities located near forest corridors that have increasingly become hotspots for kidnapping and violent attacks