Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has inaugurated a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Ahoro Esinele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area, declaring that uncovering the truth is essential to preventing future attacks on schools.
The commission, inaugurated on Friday at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office in Agodi, Ibadan, is chaired by former Court of Appeal Justice Mojeed Owoade.
Other members are Jibril Ibrahim, Ayo Obe, Ngozi Onadeko, Abimbola Orogade, retired Major General Sanusi Muazu and Folorunsho Osunrayi, while Olamide Tella serves as secretary.
Speaking at the ceremony, Makinde described the mass abduction as more than an attack on two rural communities, saying it represented an assault on children’s right to education and the confidence of parents who send their children to school.
He noted that although the victims had regained their freedom, the government had a responsibility to determine how the incident occurred and what measures were needed to stop a recurrence.
“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,” the governor said.
Makinde stressed that the commission was not established to undermine the efforts of security agencies involved in the rescue operation but to identify gaps that may have contributed to the incident.
He tasked the panel with establishing the facts surrounding the abduction, identifying institutional and operational shortcomings, and recommending practical measures to improve the protection of schools and vulnerable communities across the state.
According to the governor, the findings of the inquiry will play a crucial role in strengthening security policies and ensuring that similar incidents do not occur again.
Makinde also reflected on his personal connection to the affected area, revealing that his father taught at St. Luke’s, Ahoro Dada, in 1959.
He said the memory reinforced the importance of safeguarding schools, adding that had his father fallen victim to such violence at the time, he might never have been born.
The governor said the commission has been given an initial one-month mandate to complete its assignment, with the possibility of an extension if additional time is required for a thorough investigation.
He assured the panel of the state’s full support and urged individuals, institutions and relevant agencies to cooperate by providing information that would assist the inquiry.
Responding on behalf of the commission, Justice Owoade assured residents that the panel would conduct its work impartially and remain guided only by facts and evidence.
He expressed confidence in the expertise of the commission’s members and pledged that the assignment would be handled with professionalism and integrity.
The inquiry follows the abduction of more than 40 pupils and students, alongside their teachers, in Oriire Local Government Area.
The victims were rescued after spending almost two months in captivity, following sustained security operations and protests by groups, including the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), demanding their release.
