Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has assured that his administration will carefully examine the recommendations of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the abduction of students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area and implement necessary measures to prevent a recurrence.
Makinde gave the assurance on Tuesday while receiving the report of the commission, headed by retired Justice (Prof.) Mojeed Owoade, at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Ibadan.
The governor also promised that his administration would publicly respond to the findings, stressing that confidentiality would not be used as an excuse to avoid accountability.
He said: “We will examine the recommendations of this report and publicly respond to them. Confidentiality will not be used as an excuse to avoid accountability.”
Makinde recalled that the state government inaugurated the commission on July 31, 2026, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the abduction of students and teachers in Esinele and Yawota communities in Oriire Local Government Area.
According to him, the commission was mandated to establish how the attack occurred, the information available before and during the incident, the response of relevant institutions and whether there were intelligence, administrative or operational failures.
The governor, who paid tribute to the families of the victims and the abducted persons, said their eventual return could not completely erase the trauma caused by the incident.
“While their return brought relief, it cannot erase the grief and fear. The government owes our citizens answers, action and an honest account of what must be done better,” he said.
Makinde said the incident had tested the security architecture put in place by his administration, commending the chairman and members of the commission for completing their assignment despite what he described as a politically charged atmosphere.
He said the government would carefully study the recommendations and take necessary steps to strengthen security at schools and communities.
“We will carefully examine the recommendations of this report for necessary implementation at all levels, particularly for the safety of our children in schools and for a security reset that can serve not only Oyo State but Nigeria,” the governor said.
Makinde also called for intensified efforts to secure the release of more than 40 children abducted in Niger State on the same day as the Oriire incident and who, according to him, had remained in captivity for 137 days.
Earlier, the chairman of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry, Justice (Prof.) Mojeed Owoade (rtd), said the panel undertook extensive investigations, including visits to the scenes of the incidents at Esinele and Yawota.
Owoade said members of the commission inspected the affected schools, went through surrounding bushes to obtain first-hand information and conducted public hearings in Ikoyi-Ile, Ogbomoso and Ibadan.
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He said the commission took evidence from 72 witnesses, including victims, traditional rulers, civil society organisations, experts and other stakeholders.
“We visited the crime scenes at Esinele and Yawota, inspected the affected schools and went through the bushes to obtain first-hand information. We also held public hearings in Ikoyi-Ile, Ogbomoso and Ibadan,” Owoade said.
He added that the report contained recommendations directed at the Oyo State Government, local governments, the Federal and state governments jointly, as well as recommendations specifically for the Federal Government.
One of the major recommendations, according to him, was the review of the laws and management of forest reserves, particularly the Old Oyo National Park.
Owoade said the measure would help strengthen intelligence gathering and inter-agency cooperation while improving the protection of schools and communities across the state.
The presentation was attended by Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal; Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin; the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Iyabo Yerima, represented by Justice O. M. Olagunju; Chief of Staff, Segun Ogunwuyi; Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Biodun Aikomo; Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Segun Olayiwola; and Commissioner for Health, Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi.
Others included Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade; Executive Adviser to the Governor on Security Coordination, Major-General Lukman Omoniyi (rtd); Executive Assistant on Security Matters, CP Sunday Odukoya (rtd); Special Adviser on Immigration and Homeland Security, ACG Segun Adegoke (rtd); Commandant of the Oyo State Amotekun Corps, Col. Olayinka Olayanju (rtd), as well as traditional rulers, religious leaders, service commanders and members of the commission.
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