The Oyo State Government has called for public memoranda to assist the Judicial Commission of Inquiry investigating the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of the state.
The call was made known in a statement issued by the Oyo State Government on its official handle today.
According to the statement, the commission is seeking relevant information on the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Esinele and Yawota communities. It is also requesting information on the security response before, during and after the incident.
The government said the submission of memoranda would enable the commission to gather facts that will aid its investigation and help in making recommendations to prevent a recurrence.
Oriire Local Government Area is located in the northern part of Oyo State and shares boundaries with Kwara State. The area has a number of rural communities and schools that have raised concerns over security in recent times.
The inauguration of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry follows public concern over the safety of pupils, teachers and residents in the affected communities. The government said the panel is expected to carry out a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the abduction.
The statement added that members of the public, community leaders, civil society organisations, security agencies and other stakeholders with useful information are encouraged to submit memoranda to the commission. Details on where and how to submit the memoranda are expected to be made available by the Secretary of the Commission.
The state government reiterated its commitment to the protection of lives and property and said the outcome of the inquiry would guide policy decisions aimed at strengthening security in schools and communities across the state.
The commission is expected to sit in Ibadan and may also hold sessions in Oriire Local Government Area to enable direct interaction with residents and other stakeholders.
Meanwhile, the Department of State Services has released a carpenter, Mustapha Marwana, who was arrested in connection with the abduction and killing of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The Director-General of the Service, Tosin Ajayi, ordered Marwana’s release after investigators cleared him of any involvement in the attack.
According to findings by the investigative panel, the Katsina-born artisan was not a member of any terrorist organisation and had no operational ties to the Ansaru terrorist group that has been blamed for the incident.
The release comes days after the Oyo State Government called for public memoranda to assist the Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up to probe the abduction that occurred in Esinele and Yawota communities of Oriire LGA.
Marwana was picked up by DSS operatives during the manhunt for suspects linked to the attack on schools in the northern part of Oyo State. Security sources said his arrest was part of broader efforts to track individuals with possible connections to extremist networks operating around the Oyo-Kwara border area.
He was held for questioning while the service, in collaboration with other security agencies, traced communications, movements and associations linked to the incident.
Following weeks of investigation, the panel concluded that there was no evidence linking Marwana to the planning or execution of the abduction and killings.
In a directive, the Director-General, Tosin Ajayi, instructed that Marwana be released unconditionally after the panel found no culpability on his part.
The findings stated that the carpenter had no membership of any terrorist organisation and no operational relationship with Ansaru, the group authorities have associated with the Oriire attack.
A senior DSS official who confirmed the development said the service’s priority remains to ensure that innocent citizens are not unduly punished while efforts to apprehend the actual perpetrators continue.
The abduction and killing of pupils and teachers in Esinele and Yawota communities sparked outrage across Oyo State and renewed calls for improved security in rural schools.
In response, the state government set up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry and also opened channels for public memoranda to aid the investigation. The commission is expected to examine what happened before, during and after the attack, and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence.
Community leaders in Oriire have continued to demand increased patrols and better intelligence sharing between residents and security agencies.
The Department of State Services reiterated its commitment to a thorough and evidence-based investigation. It said arrests will continue to be made based on credible intelligence, and that persons found not to be culpable will be released promptly.
The service also urged members of the public to volunteer useful information to security agencies to assist in tracking those responsible for the attack.
With Marwana’s release, attention now shifts to the ongoing work of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry and the security operation aimed at apprehending the masterminds behind the Oriire abduction.
Authorities say updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.
You can get every of our news as soon as they drop on WhatsApp ...To get all news updates, Join our WhatsApp Group (Click Here)
