Makinde Inaugurates Probe Panel Over Oriire School Abduction

Lede:
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has inaugurated a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the Oriire abduction, giving the panel an initial one-month deadline to conclude its assignment, with the option of an extension if additional time is required for a comprehensive investigation.

L-R: Judicial Commission of Inquiry Chairman, Mojeed Owoade; Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde; Oyo State Chief Judge, Justice Iyabo Yerima; Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Musibau Babatunde; Major General Sanusi Nasir Muazu (rtd); and Commission Member, Abimbola Orogade, during the inauguration of the Judicial Commission, held at the Executive Chamber, Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Ibadan. PHOTO: Oyo Gov’s Media Unit.

The Governor of Oyo State, ‘Seyi Makinde, has inaugurated a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the recent abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in the Ahoro Esinele and Yawota communities of the Oriire Local Government Area.

The commission is chaired by a former Justice of the Court of Appeal, Mojeed Owoade, with Olamide Tella as secretary. Other members include Jibril Ibrahim, Ayo Obe, Ngozi Onadeko, Abimbola Orogade, Major General Sanusi Muazu (rtd), and Folorunsho Osunrayi.

Speaking at the inauguration, held at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office at the Secretariat in Agodi, Ibadan, on Friday, Governor Makinde emphasized that the incident was not merely an attack on two communities, but an assault on the right of every Nigerian child to learn in safety and on the confidence of parents who send their children to school daily.

While expressing gratitude for the safe return of the victims, the governor explained that establishing an independent commission aims to ensure all lessons are learned and pertinent questions are answered.

“The abduction of innocent children and their teachers in the Oriire Local Government Area was not merely an attack on the Ahoro and Yawota communities,” Governor Makinde said. “It was an attack on the right of every Nigerian child to learn in safety and on the confidence of every parent who sends a child to school each day.”

“While we remain grateful for the safe return of the victims, our duty does not end with their rescue. Rescue brings relief, but truth brings closure. Accountability and reform restore public confidence and help prevent recurrence. Justice is not only about punishing wrongdoing; it is about learning enough to ensure that the innocent are never again placed in harm’s way,” he said.

He stressed that the initiative is not intended to diminish the efforts and sacrifices of security agencies.

Makinde charged the commission with establishing the facts, identifying institutional or operational lapses, and recommending measures to strengthen the protection of schools and communities across Oyo State. He underscored that its work is critical to preventing a recurrence of such tragedies.

The governor recalled his personal connection to the area, noting that his father taught at St Luke’s, Ahoro Dada, in 1959. He remarked that if his father had been kidnapped and killed at that time, he himself might never have been born, explaining that this personal experience reinforced his resolve to call for an independent examination of the incident.

The commission has been given an initial period of one month to complete its assignment, with provision for an extension if necessary to ensure thoroughness. The governor assured that the state government would provide all necessary support to enable the panel to discharge its duties independently and professionally, while also calling on individuals, institutions, and relevant agencies to cooperate fully by providing helpful information.

In his remarks to journalists, Owoade assured the public that the commission would operate solely on the truth and expressed confidence in the competence of its members.

The development comes weeks after over 40 students and pupils were abducted in the state. But they were rescued after a month in captivity and protests by several groups, including the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT).