Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has vowed to act on the recommendations of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the abduction of students and teachers at Oriire Community in Olorunsogo Local Government Area, following the submission of the panel’s report on Tuesday.
Makinde, who received the report from the commission’s chairman, retired Justice Mojeed Owoade, at the Executive Chamber, Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, said his administration would thoroughly examine the findings and ensure that confidentiality would not be used to evade accountability.
He said the report would guide decisions, establish responsibilities and lead to measurable improvements in security, adding that the public would be able to follow progress on its implementation.
“Our children’s safety must be the test of what changes,” the governor said.
The commission was established to investigate how the abduction occurred, the intelligence available before the attack, the response of security agencies and whether intelligence, administrative or operational failures contributed to the incident.
Makinde said the inquiry was necessary to identify weaknesses in the state’s security arrangements and determine what needed to change to prevent a recurrence.
He acknowledged that the Oriire attack tested the security architecture his administration had developed over the years, stressing that previous successes in crime reduction could not excuse the failure to protect residents.
“Some people will say that under this administration, we brought down the crime rate. But Oriire is part of the record. No responsible government can point to earlier progress and ask families to overlook a grave failure of protection,” he said.
Owoade panel recommends forest reserve reforms
Presenting the report, Justice Owoade disclosed that the commission conducted field inspections and public hearings to establish the circumstances surrounding the abduction.
He said members visited the crime scenes, inspected the affected schools and went through surrounding bushes to obtain firsthand knowledge of what happened.
The commission also held public hearings in Ikoyi-Ile, Ogbomoso and Ibadan, where it received testimony from 72 witnesses, including victims, traditional rulers, civil society organisations, experts and other stakeholders.
According to Owoade, the recommendations are aimed at strengthening preventive security through improved intelligence gathering and cooperation among security agencies and government institutions.
He said the recommendations cover the Oyo State Government, local governments, joint federal and state action, as well as measures to be undertaken solely by the Federal Government.
One of the major recommendations is a review of the laws and management of forest reserves, particularly the Old Oyo National Park, which is under federal government ownership.
“Of particular significance is our opinion that there is a need to review the laws and management of forest reserves, especially the Old Oyo National Park, which belongs to the federal government. This is essential for maintaining security,” Owoade said.
The commission’s chairman said the proposed reforms were intended to strengthen security and prevent similar incidents in the future.
Makinde acknowledges security failures
Responding to the report, Makinde said the Oriire incident had demonstrated the need to assess the effectiveness of existing security systems rather than rely solely on previous achievements.
He recalled that when he assumed office, the state’s 615 toll-free emergency number had been approved but was not operational, while parts of the City Watch and Security Control Room infrastructure were not functioning as expected.
The governor said his administration subsequently activated the emergency number, refurbished and expanded the control room, extended its coverage and connected the police, Amotekun Corps, Operation Burst and other relevant agencies through a communication system to improve coordination.
He said the incident had reinforced the need to strengthen these arrangements and ensure that security agencies could respond more effectively to threats.
Makinde also commended those involved in the rescue operation, including the Operational Coordination Centre, Amotekun personnel, hunters, vigilantes, the military, police, intelligence services and other federal agencies.
He specifically thanked the Director-General of the Department of State Services and the state directors of security in Oyo and Lagos, who relocated to Oyo during the period.
However, the governor insisted that rescuing the victims could not be the only measure of success.
“Rescue cannot be the only measure of success. We must ask: What could have prevented the attack? What could have shortened the ordeal? What will make children safer in their schools?” he said.
Linking the findings to his advocacy for a national security reset, Makinde said Nigeria needed functional security systems that would enable authorities to identify failures and address them.
He expressed appreciation to Owoade and other members of the commission for completing the assignment despite what he described as a politically charged atmosphere when the panel was established.
The event was attended by Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal; Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin; and Chief Judge of Oyo State, Iyabo Yerima, represented by Justice O. M. Olagunju.
Also present were Chief of Staff Segun Ogunwuyi, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Biodun Aikomo, commissioners, security commanders, religious leaders and members of the commission.
