Oyo State Governor Makinde inaugurates judicial commission of inquiry into Oriire school abduction

The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has inaugurated a judicial commission of inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the recent abduction of school children and teachers in the Oriire Local Government Area of the state. The commission is chaired by Justice Mojeed Owoade, retired, a former justice of the Court of Appeal, with Mrs. Olamide Tella serving as secretary. At the inauguration, the governor described the abduction as 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. He said the state remained grateful for the safe return of the victims but that the duty of the authorities did not end with the rescue, adding that while a rescue brings relief, truth brings closure, and that accountability and reform restore public confidence and help prevent a recurrence. Beyond establishing the facts, the commission is expected to recommend measures to strengthen the protection of schools and communities in the state.

The commission is chaired by Justice Mojeed Owoade, who is retired and a former justice of the Court of Appeal. Mrs. Olamide Tella is serving as the secretary of the commission, which has been tasked with examining what led to the abduction of the pupils and their teachers in the area.

Speaking at the inauguration, the governor framed the abduction as a violation of a basic right. He described it as 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, tying the inquiry to the wider question of school safety.

The governor said that the state remained grateful for the safe return of the victims. At the same time, he stressed that the duty of the authorities did not end with the rescue of the abducted pupils and teachers, pointing to further steps that still needed to be taken after their release.

Explaining the purpose of the inquiry, the governor said that while a rescue brings relief, it is the truth that brings closure. He added that accountability and reform are what restore public confidence and help to prevent a recurrence of an incident of this kind in the state.

He also set out a broader view of justice in the matter. According to him, justice is not only about punishing wrongdoing; it is also about learning enough from what happened to ensure that innocent people are never again placed in such a situation in the future.

Beyond establishing the facts, the commission is expected to recommend measures that will strengthen the protection of schools and communities in the state. The stated aim is to help ensure that a tragedy of this kind does not happen again to pupils and teachers in Oyo State.

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