The Presidency has criticised Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde over his call for a United Nations-backed investigation into the abduction of pupils and teachers in the state, describing the demand as unnecessary and politically motivated.
Makinde made the call on Monday while officially receiving the 45 rescued teachers and pupils who regained freedom after spending 56 days in captivity. He argued that Nigerians deserved a full and transparent account of the circumstances surrounding the abduction and the eventual rescue.
The victims were kidnapped on May 15, 2026, when armed bandits attacked three schools in the Yawota and Ahoro Esienle communities of Oriire Local Government Area, abducting 39 pupils and six teachers.
Reacting, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the governor’s request reflected a lack of confidence in Nigeria’s security institutions, insisting that the military and other security agencies had already explained the rescue operation.
Speaking in an interview with The PUNCH, Onanuga said the Federal Government had no objection if the UN chose to examine the incident but questioned the basis for Makinde’s demand.
“The Governor has expressed his opinion that the UN should probe the incident. Our doors are open. Let the UN come if he believes there is more to it than what our military has already explained,” he said.
Onanuga argued that security agencies had no reason to deliberately allow innocent citizens, particularly children, to remain in captivity for nearly two months.
He noted that the rescue operation came at a heavy cost, with some military personnel and members of the Amotekun Corps losing their lives while pursuing the kidnappers.
Describing any suggestion of collusion as unreasonable, Onanuga said it was inconceivable that anyone would intentionally subject young children to the trauma they endured, including the death of a mathematics teacher while in captivity.
The presidential spokesman further accused Makinde, who is seeking the presidency, of allowing politics to influence his position.
“It is unfortunate that Mr Makinde, perhaps because of politics and his presidential ambition, appears to have lost confidence in our institutions and is now calling for an external investigation,” he said.
He maintained that the military and the Department of State Services had already disclosed what they knew about the operation, describing the governor’s call as “unwarranted” and “completely unnecessary.”
Onanuga also accused Makinde of politicising the issue, saying the governor was attempting to “weaponise” the incident by promoting what he described as a conspiracy theory.
Earlier, in a video shared by Oyo Affairs after the rescued victims arrived at the Oyo State Secretariat, Makinde appealed to the United Nations and other international human rights and accountability bodies to independently investigate the circumstances surrounding the abduction and rescue.
According to the governor, the unusual nature of the incident warranted independent scrutiny beyond Nigeria’s domestic institutions.
“The circumstances surrounding this incident are sufficiently grave and unusual to warrant independent scrutiny beyond our domestic institutions.
“I therefore call on the appropriate international human rights and accountability mechanisms, including those within the United Nations system, to closely examine the facts surrounding this abduction and the circumstances of its resolution,” he said.
Makinde stressed that his request was not intended to undermine Nigerian institutions but to strengthen public confidence by ensuring that anyone found culpable, regardless of status or office, is held accountable.
He also reminded the Federal Government that the Constitution places responsibility for national security on the federal authorities and the security agencies under their command.
The governor said Nigerians deserved a comprehensive explanation of what happened, whether there were institutional failures, negligence or collusion, and the steps being taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Rejecting claims that his demand was politically motivated, Makinde insisted the call was about justice for the victims and restoring public confidence.
“This is not about politics. It is about justice for the victims, reassurance for our people, and restoring public confidence that every Nigerian child can go to school without fear,” he said.
The rescued pupils and teachers were formally handed over to the Oyo State Government by the Federal Government before arriving at the Oyo State Secretariat in Ibadan on Monday.
