Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has received the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area, promising that the findings will lead to decisions, assigned responsibilities and actions that the public can follow.
Makinde received the report on Tuesday at the Executive Council Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, following the completion of the commission’s investigation into the May 15, 2026 attack.
Forty-six pupils and teachers were abducted from three schools in communities in Oriire Local Government Area during the attack.
Two teachers died, while the remaining 44 victims eventually regained their freedom after spending 56 days in captivity.
Receiving the report, Makinde expressed sympathy with the families of the victims and said the return of those rescued could not erase the deaths, suffering and fear caused by the incident.
“May this type of affliction never arise again,” the governor said.
“Yes, the return brought relief, but it cannot erase those deaths, the suffering those taken away endured or the fear that families continue to go through.”
Makinde said the state government owed the affected families more than sympathy, stressing that questions surrounding the attack must be answered and lessons learnt to prevent a recurrence.
According to him, the Judicial Commission of Inquiry was established to determine how the attack happened, what intelligence was available before and during the incident, how relevant institutions responded and whether there were administrative, intelligence or operational failures.
He said the government would carefully study the commission’s recommendations before publicly announcing its response and the measures it intends to implement.
“We will examine its recommendations carefully, respond to them publicly and set out the actions we will take,” Makinde said.
“Where the report raises matters for federal security agencies or other authorities, we will engage them directly.”
The governor added that while sensitive information capable of endangering individuals or affecting ongoing proceedings would be protected, confidentiality would not be used to avoid accountability.
Makinde said the Oriire abduction represented a major test for Oyo State’s security architecture despite investments made by his administration in security infrastructure.
He recalled that his administration operationalised the state’s 615 toll-free emergency number and refurbished and expanded the City Watch and Security Control Room.
According to him, the system connects the police, Amotekun, Operation Burst and other relevant security services to improve communication and coordination during emergencies.
Makinde also said the state had provided operational vehicles and communication equipment to security agencies as part of efforts to strengthen security across Oyo State.
However, the governor acknowledged that those investments could not be used to dismiss the seriousness of what happened in Oriire.
“Oriire is also part of the record. No responsible government can point to earlier progress and ask families to overlook a grave failure of protection,” he said.
While expressing appreciation to security agencies and others involved in securing the release of the victims, Makinde said their eventual return should not prevent authorities from examining what could have been done differently.
He thanked personnel at the operational coordination centre at the Oyo State Police Command Headquarters as well as Amotekun operatives, hunters, local vigilantes, the military, police, intelligence services and other federal agencies involved in the operation.
“But rescue cannot be the only measure of success,” Makinde said.
“We must ask what could have prevented the attack, what could have shortened the ordeal and what will make children safer in their schools.”
The governor used the occasion to renew his call for what he described as a “Security Reset” for Nigeria, arguing that the country needs clearly defined and functional security systems that make it possible to identify failures when incidents occur.
He said the existence of a security framework in Oyo State made it possible for the commission to investigate where the system might have broken down during the Oriire attack.
“Nigeria, too, must have a working system,” Makinde said.
He assured residents that the commission’s report would not be allowed to end as merely another government document.
According to him, the recommendations would be translated into decisions and responsibilities, with the public given an opportunity to follow the government’s response.
“So, this Commission’s report will lead to decisions, assigned responsibilities and progress that the public can follow. Our children’s safety must be the test of what changes,” he said.
Makinde urged residents and Nigerians following developments surrounding the abduction to examine the government’s security record, the circumstances surrounding the attack, the commission’s findings and the administration’s eventual response.
“Judge us by that full record — and hold us to the changes we promise,” the governor said.
Makinde also called for intensified efforts to rescue children he said were abducted in Borno State on the same day as the Oriire attack and remained in captivity.
“No Nigerian child should have to fear for their lives because they are trying to get educated,” he said.
The Judicial Commission of Inquiry, chaired by retired Court of Appeal Justice, Professor Mojeed Owoade, was inaugurated by Makinde on July 31 to investigate the circumstances surrounding the Oriire school abduction, identify possible institutional and operational lapses and recommend measures to strengthen the protection of schools and communities.
