Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has revealed that he was accused of orchestrating the abduction of students and teachers from Ahoro Esiele School in Oriire Local Government Area of the state.

Makinde made the disclosure on Friday while inaugurating a Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up to investigate the May 15, 2026 abduction at the Executive Council Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.

The governor said the decision to establish the commission was partly aimed at addressing allegations that he was behind the abduction.

“They said I orchestrated the kidnap,” Makinde said.

He described the incident as an attack not only on the affected communities but also on the right of Nigerian children to access education in a safe environment.

“The abduction of innocent children and their teachers was not merely an attack on the Ahoro, Esiele and Yawata communities, it was an attack on the right of every Nigerian child to learn in safety and on the confidence of every parent who sends a child to school each day,” he said.

Makinde expressed gratitude for the eventual safe return of the victims, but stressed that the rescue alone was not enough to address the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“We remain grateful for the safe return of the victims, yet our duty did not end with their rescue. Rescue, of course, brings relief. We are all relieved,” he said.

According to the governor, the commission would independently examine the circumstances surrounding the abduction, identify institutional and operational failures and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

He said establishing the truth was essential to restoring public confidence and ensuring accountability.

“But truth brings closure. Accountability and reform restore public confidence and help prevent a recurrence,” Makinde said.

He added that justice should not be limited to punishing those responsible for wrongdoing but should also involve learning from past failures to protect innocent people from similar dangers.

“And because 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,” he said.