Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has received the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the abduction of students and teachers at Oriire Community in Olorunsogo Local Government Area, promising that the findings will lead to decisions and action on identified security lapses.
Makinde gave the assurance on Tuesday while receiving the report from the Chairman of the commission, Hon. Justice (Prof.) Mojeed Owoade (rtd), at the Executive Chamber, Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
According to a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, Makinde said his administration would thoroughly examine the recommendations of the commission and would not use confidentiality as an excuse to avoid accountability.
The governor said the Oriire attack tested the security architecture his administration had built over the years, noting that the government had taken steps to strengthen emergency response and coordination among security agencies.
He said his administration operationalised the 615 toll-free emergency number, refurbished and expanded the City Watch and Security Control Room, and connected the Police, Amotekun, Operation Burst and other relevant services through a communication system designed to improve coordination.
Makinde, however, said the security gains recorded by the administration could not erase the failure represented by the Oriire incident.
“Some people will say that under this administration, we brought down the crime rate. But Oriire is part of the record. No responsible government can point to earlier progress and ask families to overlook a grave failure of protection,” he said.
He commended the security personnel and other stakeholders who participated in the rescue operation, including the Operational Coordination Centre, Amotekun personnel, hunters, vigilantes, the military, police and intelligence services.
He also acknowledged the roles played by the Director-General of the Department of State Services and the State Directors of Security in Oyo and Lagos States, who he said relocated to Oyo during the crisis.
The governor said the government would not regard the rescue of the victims as the only measure of success, stressing the need to identify what went wrong and prevent a recurrence.
“Rescue cannot be the only measure of success. We must ask: What could have prevented the attack? What could have shortened the ordeal? What will make children safer in their schools?” Makinde said.
He added that the commission’s findings would inform decisions, the assignment of responsibilities and measures that the public would be able to monitor.
“This commission’s report will lead to decisions, assigning responsibilities, and progress that the public can follow. Our children’s safety must be the test of what changes,” he said.
Makinde said the inquiry was established to determine how the attack occurred, what information was available before and during the incident, how relevant institutions responded and whether intelligence, administrative or operational failures contributed to the incident.
He also linked the findings to his call for a security reset at the national level, saying governments needed functional systems through which failures could be identified and addressed.
Presenting the report, Justice Owoade said the commission visited the scenes of the crime, inspected the affected schools and went through the surrounding bushes to obtain first-hand information about the incident.
He said the commission conducted public hearings in Ikoyi-Ile, Ogbomoso and Ibadan, during which it took evidence from 72 witnesses, including victims, traditional rulers, civil society organisations, individuals, experts and other stakeholders.
According to him, the report contains recommendations aimed at strengthening preventive security measures through improved intelligence gathering and enhanced cooperation between security agencies and government institutions.
Owoade said the recommendations covered the Oyo State Government, local governments, joint Federal-State action and the Federal Government.
He identified the review of laws and management of forest reserves as one of the commission’s significant recommendations, particularly concerning the Old Oyo National Park, which he said belongs to the Federal Government.
He said the review was necessary to strengthen security and prevent similar incidents in the future.
Makinde thanked Justice Owoade and members of the commission for completing the assignment, noting that the panel had undertaken the task despite the politically charged atmosphere surrounding its establishment.
The event was attended by Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal; Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin; Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Iyabo Yerima, represented by Justice O. M. Olagunju; Chief of Staff, Segun Ogunwuyi; Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Biodun Aikomo; Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade; security commanders, traditional and religious leaders, members of the commission and other government officials.
