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Governor Seyi Makinde inaugurates an eight-member Judicial Commission of Inquiry to unravel the circumstances surrounding the abduction of students and teachers from schools in Esinele and Yawata communities in Oriire Local Government Area.
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The commission is mandated to establish the facts behind the attack, identify institutional and operational security failures, and recommend reforms to better protect schools and vulnerable communities across Oyo State.
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Makinde says the inquiry is designed to complement, not undermine, the work of security agencies, insisting that every lesson from the incident must be harnessed to strengthen the state’s security architecture.
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Chairman of the panel, retired Court of Appeal Justice Prof. Mojeed Owoade, pledges an impartial and evidence-driven investigation, assuring victims and the public that the truth will be uncovered without fear or favour.
July 31, (THEWILL) — Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has inaugurated an eight-member Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the abduction of students and teachers from schools in Esinele and Yawata communities in Oriire Local Government Area.
He declared that the state is determined to ensure accountability while addressing the security gaps that enabled the attack.
The governor said the commission was constituted to establish the full facts surrounding the incident, determine whether there were institutional or operational failures that contributed to the abduction, and recommend practical measures to strengthen security in schools and communities across the state.
Makinde described the kidnapping as a grave assault on the affected communities and a violation of every child’s fundamental right to receive education in a safe and secure environment, stressing that the government owed victims and their families a transparent account of what transpired.
Speaking at the inauguration, the governor explained that the judicial inquiry was not intended to diminish the ongoing efforts of security agencies in combating insecurity but to complement them by providing an independent assessment of the circumstances surrounding the incident.
According to him, the commission will examine every aspect of the attack with a view to identifying weaknesses in the state’s security framework and recommending lasting reforms capable of preventing similar incidents in the future.
Makinde said the findings of the panel would guide the government in strengthening emergency response mechanisms, improving coordination among security agencies, and enhancing the safety of schools, particularly those in vulnerable rural communities.
He urged members of the commission to approach their assignment with integrity, professionalism, and impartiality, emphasizing that their work should be guided solely by the law, credible evidence, and the overriding public interest.
“The commission has a solemn responsibility to establish the truth and make recommendations that will help us build a more secure environment for our children and communities,” the governor said.
Owoade Promises Thorough Investigation
Chairman of the commission and retired Justice of the Court of Appeal, Professor Mojeed Owoade, assured the government and the public that the panel would carry out its assignment without bias or external influence.
He pledged that the commission would conduct a thorough, transparent, and evidence-based investigation, allowing all relevant stakeholders to present facts that would assist in uncovering the truth.
Owoade said members of the commission were fully conscious of the public importance of the assignment and would discharge their responsibilities without fear or favour.
He added that the panel would work diligently to produce recommendations capable of improving public safety and restoring confidence in the security of educational institutions across Oyo State.
The inauguration of the judicial commission comes amid heightened concerns over attacks on schools and educational facilities in parts of Nigeria, with stakeholders increasingly calling for stronger preventive measures, improved intelligence gathering, and closer collaboration between governments, security agencies, and local communities to safeguard students and teachers from criminal attacks.
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