By Adeola Badru
The Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by the Oyo State Government to unravel the circumstances surrounding the abduction of 46 pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area has invited members of the public to submit evidence that could assist its investigation.
The government, in a statement issued on Tuesday, said the commission was seeking relevant information on the circumstances surrounding the abduction of pupils, students and teachers from the Esinele and Yawota communities, as well as the security response before, during and after the attack.
“The Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Oriire abduction is calling for public memoranda,” the government stated.
It gave Friday, August 14, 2026, as the deadline for the submission of memoranda, urging individuals and organisations with useful information about the incident to come forward and assist the panel in establishing the facts surrounding one of the state’s most serious security incidents in recent times.
According to the government, submissions to the commission should contain the full name and contact details of the contributor, alongside any supporting documents considered relevant to the information being provided.
The government said memoranda could be submitted physically at the Conference Room, Office of the Head of Service, State Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
It also provided an electronic channel for submissions through oysjceoriireabduction@gmail.com, urging members of the public with relevant information to ensure that their memoranda reached the commission before the August 14 deadline.
The commission’s terms of reference include receiving information concerning the abduction of pupils, students and teachers from communities including Esinele and Yawota and examining the security response to the incident before, during and after the attack.
The development came months after armed men attacked three schools in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15, 2026, abducting dozens of pupils and teachers.
The affected schools were Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele; Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; and L.A. Primary School.
A total of 39 students and seven teachers were taken captive during the attack and remained in the custody of their abductors for 56 days before their eventual rescue in July.
The release of the victims was announced by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who said security agencies had rescued them without making any concession to the abductors.
The prolonged captivity generated widespread concern across Oyo State and beyond, while security agencies subsequently intensified operations to secure the victims and bring the ordeal to an end.
Following the rescue, Governor Seyi Makinde called for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the abduction, describing the incident as grave enough to warrant scrutiny beyond the existing domestic institutions.
The latest move by the state government therefore marked a formal effort to obtain first-hand accounts, documentary evidence and other relevant information that could help the commission reconstruct what happened before, during and after the attack.
Beyond determining the circumstances that led to the abduction, the inquiry is also expected to examine the adequacy and effectiveness of the security response, including what actions were taken before the attack, the response during the incident and the measures adopted afterwards.
The government urged members of the public who witnessed events connected with the abduction or possess relevant information or documentation to make their contributions to the commission within the stipulated period.
It said such submissions could assist the judicial panel in its investigation and help establish a clearer account of the incident.
“The Oyo State Government remains committed to the safety of every community,” the statement added.
The public invitation for memoranda came against the backdrop of continuing concerns over the security of schools and communities in parts of the state, particularly following the scale and duration of the Oriire incident.
The government consequently urged anyone with relevant information to take advantage of the opportunity to submit evidence before the August 14 deadline, as the commission continues its investigation into the abduction that kept 46 pupils and teachers in captivity for nearly two months.
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