Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has inaugurated an eight-member Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the abduction of pupils and teachers from schools in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15, 2026, appointing a retired Justice of the Court of Appeal to chair the panel and giving it four weeks to submit its findings. The inauguration, which took place on Friday, July 31, 2026, at the Executive Council Chamber of the Governor's Office in Ibadan, marks a significant step in the state's effort to establish the facts behind one of the most traumatic security incidents in Oyo State's recent history and to restore public confidence amid allegations that the governor orchestrated the attack.
The commission is chaired by retired Justice of the Court of Appeal, Professor Mojeed Owoade, a respected jurist who served as Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Kaduna Division, before his retirement in 2022. Other members of the panel include Professor Jibril Ibrahim, a renowned academic and political analyst; Mrs. Ayo Obe, a prominent civil rights activist and lawyer; retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police Ngozi Onadeko; Dr. Abimbola Orogade; retired Major General Sanusi Nasir Muazu, a former General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 2 Division of the Nigerian Army; and Mr. Folorunsho Osunrayi. Mrs. Olamide Sandra Tella will serve as Secretary to the commission. The panel brings together a diverse range of expertise from the judiciary, academia, civil society, security, and military institutions, reflecting the gravity of the assignment.
The abduction occurred on May 15, 2026, when gunmen attacked Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and LA Primary School in Ogbomoso, all within Oriire Local Government Area. At least 45 schoolchildren and teachers were reportedly kidnapped during the incident, which forced the Oyo State Government to shut down schools in four local government areas as security agencies intensified rescue efforts. Two people were killed during the attacks on the schools. The victims were eventually rescued after spending 56 days in captivity on July 10, 2026.
Speaking at the inauguration, Governor Makinde said the decision to constitute the commission was driven by the need to uncover the truth and restore public confidence amid allegations that he orchestrated the incident. He disclosed that the incident was politicised in some quarters, with accusations that his administration masterminded the kidnapping, stressing that such claims made it even more imperative to establish the facts. "They said I orchestrated the kidnap. The abduction of innocent children and their teachers was not merely an attack on the Ahoro, Esiele and Yawata communities," Makinde said. "It was an attack on the right of every Nigerian child to learn in safety and on the confidence of every parent who sends a child to school each day".
Although the victims were eventually rescued, the governor maintained that the responsibility of government extended beyond securing their freedom. "Rescue brings relief. But truth brings closure. Accountability and reform restore public confidence and help prevent a recurrence," he said. He added: "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".
Governor Makinde recounted a personal family experience to explain why he considered it necessary to seek a comprehensive investigation into the incident. "My own father actually taught in 1959. He was at St. Luke's and was sent there for teacher training. I was born eight years later," he said. "Let's just assume that he got kidnapped and he was the one beheaded. I would never have been born. So it was for this reason that I called on the international community to support an independent examination of the circumstances surrounding this incident".
He emphasised that the call for international support was not intended to undermine the efforts of security agencies but to ensure that every question surrounding the incident was answered. "That call was never about diminishing the efforts of our security agencies, whose sacrifices we acknowledge and appreciate," he said. "It was about ensuring that every lesson is learned and every question that deserves an answer is answered".
The governor gave the panel four weeks to complete its investigation and submit its final report, with an option to request an extension if required. He charged the commission to establish the facts surrounding the abduction, identify any institutional or operational lapses, recommend measures to strengthen the protection of schools and communities, and help ensure that such a tragedy never occurs again. He urged members of the commission to conduct their work with impartiality, professionalism and strict adherence to the law. "Your work must be guided only by the evidence, the law and the public interest. Nigerians expect nothing less than an impartial, thorough and credible process," Makinde added.
Responding on behalf of the panel, the Chairman, Justice Owoade, assured that the inquiry would be guided by facts and evidence. "Nigerians should expect truth and nothing but the truth. We have people of great experience and the highest integrity on this panel. In unravelling the truth, there will be no disappointments," he said. Owoade added that the commission would seek an extension if the one-month timeline proves inadequate. He also expressed confidence in the panel's ability to carry out its assignment diligently.
The commission's key directives include investigating the events surrounding the May 15, 2026, mass kidnapping and the subsequent rescue of victims after 56 days in captivity; pinpointing institutional, operational, and security lapses that led to the initial security breach; and formulating recommendations to improve state-wide school security and prevent future recurrences. The inauguration of the panel follows the recent rescue of the victims after weeks in captivity, amid renewed calls for measures to strengthen security and prevent similar incidents across the state.
Governor Makinde commended members of the commission for accepting the assignment despite the prevailing political climate, noting that he personally contacted each of those he invited and none declined. "This is also a season of politics. You have agreed to serve knowing well that this assignment may come back to you in such a way that people may think you are being used for political purposes," he said. "But because of your love for our state and country, this has never happened. I called everybody one after the other and no one said no to me. So I thank you".
The establishment of the judicial commission underscores the Makinde administration's commitment to ensuring a thorough and independent investigation into the incident, which has been widely condemned as an attack on the right of children to education and the safety of school communities. The panel's findings and recommendations are expected to inform policy measures aimed at strengthening school security and preventing future occurrences of such tragedies across Oyo State.
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