The Oyo State Judicial Commission of Inquiry is requesting public assistance to clarify the facts surrounding the kidnapping of 46 students and teachers in the Oriire Local Government Area. Authorities are asking witnesses and interested parties to submit evidence regarding the abduction from Esinele and Yawota communities, as well as the efficacy of the security response during the crisis.
Submissions must be delivered by Friday, August 14, 2026. Interested parties should include their full contact information and any pertinent documentation. Memoranda can be filed in person at the Office of the Head of Service at the State Secretariat in Agodi, Ibadan, or sent digitally to the official government email address.
This investigation follows a May 15, 2026, raid on three local institutions: Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele; Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; and L.A. Primary School. The 39 students and 7 teachers held captive for 56 days were eventually freed in July through a military and security operation. President’s aide Bayo Onanuga confirmed the rescue occurred without concessions to the kidnappers.
Governor Seyi Makinde ordered this independent inquiry to evaluate security failures and determine the circumstances of the ordeal. The panel aims to assess whether security measures taken before, during, and after the event were sufficient. By gathering first-hand accounts, the state government intends to reconstruct the timeline of one of its most challenging recent security threats.
