The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has urged stronger action to secure the release of more than 40 children kidnapped in Borno State, who have now spent 137 days in captivity.
Makinde issued this appeal on Tuesday when he received the report from the Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up to look into the abduction of students and teachers from the Esinele and Yawota communities in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on May 15, 2026.
According to the governor, the commission’s findings will inform government choices, define who is responsible, and enable the public to track how the measures taken after the incident are progressing.
“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,” Makinde said.
He called on the people of Oyo State and Nigerians who had been tracking the process to review the evidence the commission provided, along with the government’s actions before, during, and after the attack.
“To the people of Oyo States and to Nigerians who have been following this process, I make this request.
“Please examine the evidence, examine what we did before, what happened when the attack came, what this commission has found, and what we do in response.
“And judge us by that full record and hold us to the changes we promise,” he said.
Makinde called for intensified efforts to rescue the Borno children who were abducted on the same day as the Oriire incident.
“Let me end this remark 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,” he said.
He stated that children across the country should be able to attend school without fearing for their lives.
“No Nigerian child, irrespective of what corner of Nigeria they may be located, should have to fear for their life because they are trying to get educated,” Makinde said.
The governor expressed gratitude to everyone who took part in the investigation and called for ongoing efforts to improve the safety of schools and communities.
The abduction on May 15 in Oriire happened at the same time as another attack on a school in Borno State, where reports said dozens of pupils and other children were taken.
More than four months after the incident, the Borno victims are still being held, and appeals for their safe return continue.
Makinde stated that the safety of children should ultimately be the measure of whether government measures had brought about real change.
