Being the Remarks by His Excellency Seyi Makinde, Executive Governor of Oyo State at the Presentation of the Report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Oriire Abduction on Tuesday 29 September 2026
Today, I receive the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the abduction of our children and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area.
Before anything else, let me speak to the families. May this type of affliction never arise again. Forty-six people were taken from three schools on 15 May 2026. Two teachers lost their lives. Forty-four people eventually returned after 56 days in captivity.
Yes, the return brought relief, but it cannot erase those deaths, the suffering those taken away endured or the fear that families continue to go through.
As a government, we owe everyone more than an expression of sympathy. We owe answers, action and an honest account of what government must do better to ensure that when we say, “May this never happen again,” it is supported by action.
We established this Judicial Commission of Inquiry to examine how the attack occurred, what information was available, how institutions responded, whether there were intelligence, administrative or operational failures, and what must change to prevent another such tragedy. Let me thank the Chairperson and members of the Commission for undertaking this difficult assignment.
I have just received your report. We will examine its recommendations carefully, respond to them publicly and set out the actions we will take. Where the report raises matters for federal security agencies or other authorities, we will engage them directly. We will protect information that could endanger people or prejudice active proceedings, but confidentiality must not become an excuse for avoiding accountability.
The Oriire attack tested the security system we have worked to build in Oyo State. When we came into office, the 615 toll-free number had been approved but was not yet operational. The City Watch and Security Control Room infrastructure had also been initiated, although parts of the system were not functioning as they should. We operationalised 615, refurbished and expanded the control room, extended its coverage and connected the police, Amotekun, Operation Burst and other relevant services through a communications system that helps them coordinate a response.
Over the years, we have provided operational vehicles with communications equipment and expanded our security architecture to enable the people of Oyo State to sleep with both eyes closed. And the data supports lower crime rates across the board.
Those are part of the record. Oriire is also part of the record. No responsible government can point to earlier progress and ask families to overlook a grave failure of protection. Yes, they were rescued, and I thank everyone who contributed to the effort: those at the operational coordination centre at the Oyo State Police Command Headquarters; Amotekun personnel, hunters and local vigilantes who worked alongside the military, police, intelligence services and other federal agencies.
But rescue cannot be the only measure of success. We must ask what could have prevented the attack, what could have shortened the ordeal and what will make children safer in their schools.
This is why, at the national level, I have spoken about a Security Reset for Nigeria. We must have distinct systems. The reason we could ask the Commission of Inquiry to see where there may have been failure is because we have a system. So, we can point to where the system broke.
Nigeria, too, must have a working system.
So, this Commission’s report will lead to decisions, assigned responsibilities and progress that the public can follow. Our children’s safety must be the test of what changes.
To the people of Oyo State, and to Nigerians following this process, I make this request: examine the evidence. Examine what we built before Oriire, what happened when the attack came, what this Commission has found, and what we do in response. Judge us by that full record—and hold us to the changes we promise.
Let me end my remarks by calling for intensified efforts to rescue the over 40 children kidnapped in Borno State on the same day as the Oriire abduction, who remain in captivity 137 days later. No Nigerian child should have to fear for their lives because they are trying to get educated.
Thank you, and God bless you.
Seyi Makinde
29 September 2026