Oyo panel opens investigation into Oriire LGA school abduction, invites public memoranda

The Judicial Commission of Inquiry established by the Oyo State Government to investigate the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area has invited members of the public to submit memoranda and evidence to aid its investigation.

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The commission said it is seeking information from victims, witnesses and other members of the public with relevant knowledge of the incident as it begins work on uncovering the circumstances surrounding the attack and recommending measures to prevent similar incidents.

In a public notice issued on Monday via the state official Facebook page, the commission said submissions should include facts, evidence and recommendations relating to the abduction of students and teachers from Ahoro-Esinele and Yawota communities in Oriire Local Government Area.

According to the notice, the panel is particularly interested in information concerning the events leading to the abduction, the security situation before, during and after the incident, the response of relevant authorities and practical recommendations that could strengthen the protection of schools and communities.

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“The Commission is seeking information, facts, evidence, and materials relating to the abduction, including the circumstances surrounding the incident, the security situation before, during, and after the abduction, the response of relevant authorities, and recommendations for preventing a recurrence.”

The commission directed that all memoranda should contain the full names and contact details of contributors, alongside any supporting documents or other materials where applicable.

It said submissions can be delivered physically to the Conference Room of the Office of the Head of Service at the Oyo State Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, or electronically through the commission’s designated email address. The commission fixed 14 August 2026 as the deadline for the submission of memoranda.

The judicial commission

The call for public memoranda comes three days after Governor Seyi Makinde inaugurated the eight-member Judicial Commission of Inquiry to establish the facts surrounding the abduction that shocked residents of the affected communities.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that the governor constituted the panel to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack, identify possible institutional or operational failures and recommend measures to strengthen the protection of schools and vulnerable communities against future attacks.

Mr Makinde has repeatedly expressed doubts about the circumstances of the abduction, and, at a time, read political undertone into the incident.

But he said the commission was not intended to undermine the work of security agencies but to independently establish what happened, determine lessons from the incident and recommend reforms that could improve public safety.

The panel is chaired by Mojeed Owoade, a professor , and includes Jibril Ibrahim; Mrs Ayo Obẹ; Ngozi Onadeko, a retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police; Mr Abimbola Orogade; Sanusi Muazu, a retired major general, and Mr Folorunsho Osunrayi, while Mrs Olamide Sandra serves as secretary.

During the inauguration the governor gave the commission four weeks to complete its assignment, while indicating that additional time could be granted if necessary to ensure a thorough investigation.

The commission’s findings are expected to shape the state’s response to school security and emergency preparedness, following one of the most significant security incidents recorded in Oyo State this year.

The abduction

On 15 May, gunmen invaded three schools in Esinele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area, abducting 39 schoolchildren and 7 teachers. The attack turned deadly after the abductors killed two teachers while holding the victims captive. However, on 10 July, the remaining victims were rescued in a joint operation by Nigerian security agencies.

Following the rescue operation, the Nigerian government charged three men with terrorism over connection with the abduction of the schoolchildren in Oyo. The Federal High Court in Abuja on 23 July sent the trio to life imprisonment after finding them guilty in terrorism charges.