Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, has rejected Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde’s call for a United Nations investigation into the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area, saying the UN has no mandate to interfere in the domestic affairs of sovereign nations.
In a statement issued by his media office in New York, Ibrahim said internal security issues remain the responsibility of national and sub-national authorities, stressing that the United Nations is not empowered to investigate incidents such as the recent school abduction in Oyo State.
He urged Governor Makinde to focus on strengthening security within the state and providing support for victims of the attack instead of seeking intervention from the international body.
Ibrahim also congratulated the security agencies and Nigerians on the successful rescue of the abducted pupils and teachers. He, however, called on the governor to publicly apologise to the victims and their teachers, saying such a gesture would demonstrate empathy, accountability and responsible leadership.
The former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Affairs further urged the Oyo State Government to provide adequate assistance to the families of any teachers who may have lost their lives during the incident.
Emphasising that security is a shared responsibility, Ibrahim called on state governments across the country to invest more in preventive security measures, strengthen collaboration with security agencies and prioritise the protection of schools.
According to the Chairman of the United Nations Fifth Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Matters, ensuring a safe learning environment for children must remain a top priority for governments at all levels.
Governor Makinde had, on Monday, called on the United Nations and international human rights organisations to investigate the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers from Oriire Local Government Area on May 15.
The governor made the appeal while receiving the rescued pupils and teachers at the Governor’s Office in Ibadan, saying the circumstances surrounding the incident warranted an independent international investigation.
Makinde maintained that such a probe would not undermine Nigeria’s institutions but would help establish the full facts of the case, promote accountability and strengthen public confidence.
