By Suleiman Anyalewechi
The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has described the abduction of the Orirre School children as one of the darkest moments in both the history of Oyo State and that of his almost eight-year old administration.
This is as he insisted that his call for an independent and international inquest into the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate incident was not borne out of the desire to undermine the operations of Nigeria security agencies ,but to establish some basic facts about the abduction.
Governor Makinde who spoke on Friday July 31, 2026, on the occasion of the formal inauguration of a probe panel into the school children kidnap said he is desirous of conclusively establishing the actual circumstances surrounding the abduction of the about 39 school children and their seven teachers.
The Source reports that the Governor’s call for the United Nations to launch an investigation into the kidnap saga which occurred on May 15 ,2026, had triggered mixed reactions with the All Progressive Congress APC-led Federal Government accusing him of undermining both the integrity of the Nigeria and its security agencies.
However, speaking at the inauguration of the panel of Inquiry which held at the Executive Chamber of the Oyo Government House , Governor Makinde emphasized that the probe is primarily aimed at resolving some unanswered questions about the school children kidnap.
According to him, while the efforts of security agencies in securing the release of the victims are appreciated, the Governor insisted that their freedom and that of their teachers should not stop the efforts to establish conclusively what actually happened for the purpose of preventing a similar occurrence in the future.
“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 stated.
He maintained that the attack represents a very dark moment in the history of the State, describing it as not only targeted at the affected communities, but also an assault on the children’s right to and quest for education in a conducive environment.
He expressed the confidence that the probe panel will get to the root of the abduction saga, noting that the move represents his administration’s unflinching commitment to uncovering the truth, identifying institutional or operational shortcomings, as well as making recommendations on how to adequately protect 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”, Makinde noted.
The Panel which has a retired Court of Appeal Judge, Justice Mojid Adekunle as Chairman, has four weeks to conclude and submit its findings.
The Governor, however, assured that the timeframe could be reviewed upward should the need arises .
Discover more from The Source
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
