Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has clarified that his appeal to the international community, particularly the United Nations, to investigate the abduction and subsequent rescue of teachers and pupils from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area was not intended to cast doubt on the efforts of Nigeria’s security agencies.
Instead, the governor said the call was aimed at uncovering the full circumstances surrounding the incident and ensuring that lessons are learned to prevent a recurrence.
Makinde made the clarification on Friday while inaugurating an eight-member Judicial Commission of Inquiry at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Agodi Secretariat, Ibadan.
The commission, chaired by retired Court of Appeal Justice, Professor Mojeed Owoade, has been tasked with investigating the kidnapping of teachers and pupils in the Ahoro-Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area.
Other members of the panel include Professor Jibril Ibrahim, Mrs Ayo Obe, retired Engr. Ngozi Onadeko, Dr Abimbola Orogade, retired Major General Sanusi Nasir Muazu, a former General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 2 Division, and Mr Folorunsho Osunrayi, while Mrs Olamide Sandra Tella will serve as secretary.
The governor gave the commission one month to conclude its assignment, with the option of seeking an extension if more time is required.
Explaining his earlier call for an independent international investigation, Makinde recalled that his late father underwent teacher training in Ahoro Dada in 1959, saying the tragedy struck a personal chord.
“My father taught in Ahoro Dada in 1959. Let us assume he had been kidnapped and beheaded. I never would have been born,” he said.
“It was for this reason that I called on the international community to support an independent examination of the circumstances surrounding this incident. That call was never about diminishing the efforts of our security agencies, whose sacrifices we acknowledge and appreciate. It was about ensuring that every lesson is learned and every question that deserves an answer is answered.”
While expressing gratitude for the safe return of the abducted victims, Makinde described the attack as an assault on every child’s right to education and parents’ confidence in the safety of schools.
“We remain grateful for the safe return of the victims, yet our duty did not end with their rescue. Rescue brings relief, but truth brings closure,” he said.
The governor said the commission’s mandate is to establish the facts surrounding the abduction, identify institutional or operational lapses, recommend measures to improve the protection of schools and communities, and strengthen public confidence through accountability and reforms.
He urged members of the panel to carry out their assignment with impartiality, professionalism and fidelity to the law, noting that their findings should be guided solely by evidence and the public interest.
Makinde also appealed to individuals, institutions and relevant agencies to cooperate fully with the commission by providing useful information to aid its investigation.
Speaking with journalists after the inauguration, the chairman of the commission, Professor Owoade, assured Nigerians that the panel would deliver nothing short of the truth.
He said the commission comprises individuals with proven integrity and vast experience, adding that while the one-month timeline is achievable, the panel would seek an extension if necessary to ensure a thorough investigation.
