Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, has inaugurated a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area.
This was as he announced the appointment of a retired Justice of the Court of Appeal, Justice Mojid Adekunle Owoade, to chair the panel which comprised eight eminent personalities.
Other members of the commission are Professor Jibril Ibrahim, Mrs. Ayo Ọ̀bẹ, retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police; AIG Ngozi Onadeko, Mr. Abimbola Orogade, retired Major General Sanusi Muazu, Mr. Folorunsho Osunrayi, while Mrs. Olamide Sandra Tella serves as Secretary.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held on Friday in the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office in Ibadan, Makinde described the Oriire school abduction as one of the darkest moments in the recent history of the state.
He stressed that the commission was established to uncover the truth, identify institutional failures and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence.
The governor said the kidnapping of innocent schoolchildren and their teachers was not merely an attack on the affected communities of Ohoro-Esinele and Yawota, but a direct assault on every Nigerian child’s right to learn in a safe environment and on the confidence of parents who send their children to school each day.
Recall that the governor, who called on the United Nations and other international bodies for intervention in unraveling circumstances surrounding the abduction, is yet to confirm if such call had been acceded to.
While expressing gratitude for the successful rescue of the victims by security operatives, Makinde maintained that the government’s responsibility did not end with their release.
“Rescue brings relief, but truth brings closure. Accountability and reform restore public confidence and help prevent a 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.
The governor explained that his earlier call for an independent international examination of the incident was not intended to undermine the efforts of Nigeria’s security agencies, whose sacrifices he acknowledged and appreciated.
According to him, the objective was to ensure that every lesson from the unfortunate incident is learnt and every question deserving an answer receives one.
“This Judicial Commission of Inquiry represents our commitment to that responsibility. The assignment before the commission is clear: establish the facts, identify institutional or operational lapses, recommend measures to strengthen the protection of our schools and communities, and ensure that such a tragedy never happens again,” Makinde stated.
Reflecting on the tragedy from a personal perspective, the governor recalled that his late father served as a teacher in Yawota in 1959, noting that the incident resonated deeply with him.
“My father taught in Yawota in 1959 at St. Luke’s. Sometimes I imagine what would have happened if he had been kidnapped or killed in circumstances like these. My life, as I know it, might never have existed, because I may not have been born. Every victim has a family, a future and countless possibilities that must be protected,” he said.
Makinde commended members of the commission for accepting the sensitive national assignment despite the prevailing political atmosphere, saying none of those he personally invited declined the appointment.
“I called each member personally and not one person said no. That demonstrates your commitment to Oyo State and to our country. Let your work be guided only by the evidence, the law and the public interest,” he charged.
The governor gave the commission four weeks to conclude its assignment but assured members that the government would consider an extension if necessary to ensure a comprehensive investigation.
He pledged the full support of the state government and urged individuals, institutions and relevant security agencies to cooperate with the panel by providing all information required to establish the truth.
Makinde noted that societies become stronger not by ignoring painful experiences but by confronting them honestly, learning from them and building stronger institutions afterwards.
He expressed confidence that the commission’s recommendations would strengthen public confidence, honour the resilience of the victims and their families, and improve the security architecture protecting schools and communities across Oyo State.
Addressing newsmen shortly after the inauguration, Chairman of the Oyo State Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Oriire school abduction, retired Justice of the Court of Appeal, Mojid Adekunle Owoade, assured Nigerians that the panel will conduct its assignment with the utmost integrity, impartiality and professionalism, promising that its findings will be guided solely by the evidence.
Justice Owoade said the people should expect “nothing but the truth” from the panel, stressing that its members were determined to deliver a credible report capable of strengthening public confidence and advancing justice.
“What Nigerians should expect is the truth, and nothing but the truth. That is all I can say,” the retired jurist declared.
He disclosed that before accepting the assignment, he was assured that the commission would comprise individuals with proven competence, vast experience and impeccable character.
“When I was approached, I was informed that those who would serve with me were people of great experience and the highest integrity. Having now met them, I have every reason to believe that those assurances were genuine,” he said.
Justice Owoade expressed confidence that the commission would painstakingly examine every relevant fact surrounding the Oriire abduction, assuring victims, their families and the general public that the panel would neither compromise the truth nor succumb to external pressures.
“In unravelling the truth, Nigerians should be assured that there will be no disappointment,” he added.
On whether the four-week deadline given by Governor Makinde would be sufficient to complete the assignment, the retired Appeal Court Justice acknowledged that the complexity of the investigation could require additional time.
“It may not be enough. If we find that more time is required to carry out a thorough and comprehensive investigation, we will request an extension,” he said.
Justice Owoade reiterated the commission’s commitment to ensuring that every aspect of the tragic incident is carefully examined, with the ultimate goal of making recommendations that would strengthen the protection of schools, improve security coordination and help prevent a recurrence of such attacks in Oyo State and across the country.