Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has assured the public that his administration will thoroughly review the recommendations of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up to investigate the abduction of students and teachers at Oriire Community in Olorunsogo Local Government Area.
Makinde gave the assurance on Tuesday while receiving the Commission’s report from its Chairman, Justice (Prof.) Mojeed Owoade (retd.), at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Ibadan. The development was contained in a statement by the Governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju.
The governor said confidentiality would not be used to shield failures from accountability, noting that the May 15, 2026, attack tested the security structures his administration had developed over the years.
Makinde said the state had strengthened its security architecture by operationalising the 615 toll-free emergency line, expanding the security control room and linking the Police, Amotekun Corps, Operation Burst and other security services to improve coordination.
He, however, said the Oriire incident showed that previous security gains could not be used to overlook failures in protecting residents. He commended the security agencies, vigilantes, hunters, intelligence services and other personnel involved in the rescue operation, but stressed that rescuing victims should not be the only measure of success.
According to him, the government must determine what could have prevented the attack, shortened the victims’ ordeal and improved the safety of children in schools.
Makinde said the Commission’s findings would guide decisions, the assignment of responsibilities and measures whose implementation could be monitored by the public. He added that the safety of children should remain a key measure of the changes introduced following the incident.
Receiving the report, Justice Owoade said the Commission visited the crime scenes and affected schools and held public hearings in Ikoyi-Ile, Ogbomoso and Ibadan. He disclosed that 72 witnesses, including victims, traditional rulers, experts, civil society organisations and other stakeholders, testified before the panel.
Owoade said the Commission made recommendations covering the Oyo State Government, local governments, joint Federal-State action and the Federal Government. He highlighted the need to review the laws and management of forest reserves, particularly the Old Oyo National Park, as part of measures to strengthen security.
The Commission was constituted following the May 15 attack on Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School and L.A. Primary School in the area. The incident resulted in the abduction of 39 pupils and seven teachers, who were held for 56 days in the Old Oyo National Park before their release on July 10, 2026.
Two teachers, Michael Oyedokun and Adesiyan Adegboye, died during the incident.
Makinde thanked Justice Owoade and members of the Commission for completing the assignment, saying their work would provide a basis for strengthening preventive security measures and protecting communities from similar incidents.
