Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, has said his call for the United Nations and other international bodies to probe the circumstances surrounding the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area was not intended to undermine the efforts of Nigeria’s security agencies.
Makinde stated this on Friday while inaugurating a Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by the state government to investigate the circumstances surrounding the abduction of the schoolchildren and their teachers.
The governor, who spoke at the inauguration ceremony held at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Ibadan, said the proposed international probe was aimed at ensuring that unanswered questions surrounding the incident were addressed.
He said the government appreciated the efforts of security operatives who secured the release of the victims but maintained that their rescue should not mark the end of efforts to establish what happened and prevent a recurrence.
“My call for an independent international examination of the incident was not intended to undermine the efforts of Nigeria’s security agencies, whose sacrifices we acknowledge and appreciate.
“The objective was to ensure that every lesson from this unfortunate incident is learnt and every question deserving an answer receives one,” Makinde said.
The governor described the Oriire school abduction as one of the darkest moments in the recent history of Oyo State, stressing that the incident was not merely an attack on the affected communities of Ohoro-Esinele and Yawota but also an assault on the right of children to access education in a safe environment.
He said the establishment of the judicial commission was part of his administration’s commitment to uncovering the truth, identifying institutional or operational lapses and recommending measures to strengthen the protection of schools and communities across the state.
“Rescue brings relief, but truth brings closure. Accountability and reform restore public confidence and help prevent a recurrence.
“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,” he said.
Makinde announced the appointment of a retired Justice of the Court of Appeal, Justice Mojid Adekunle Owoade, as chairman of the commission, giving the panel four weeks to complete its assignment.
He, however, assured the members that the deadline could be extended if they required additional time to conduct a comprehensive investigation.
The governor urged individuals, institutions and relevant security agencies to cooperate with the commission by providing all information necessary to enable it establish the facts surrounding the incident.
Makinde also disclosed a personal connection to the affected community, recalling that his late father taught at St. Luke’s School, Yawota, in 1959.
“My father taught in Yawota in 1959 at St. Luke’s. Sometimes I imagine what would have happened if he had been kidnapped or killed in circumstances like these. My life, as I know it, might never have existed, because I may not have been born.
“Every victim has a family, a future and countless possibilities that must be protected,” he said.
The governor commended members of the commission for accepting the assignment despite what he described as the prevailing political atmosphere, saying he personally contacted each of those he invited and none declined.
He charged the panel to be guided by evidence, the law and the public interest in carrying out its assignment.
