The Presidency has criticised Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde over his call for a United Nations-led investigation into the abduction of 39 pupils and six teachers in the state, describing the request as unnecessary and politically motivated.
Makinde made the appeal on Monday while formally taking responsibility for the welfare, rehabilitation and education of the victims, who were rescued after spending 56 days in captivity.
The pupils and teachers were abducted on 15 May 2026 when armed bandits attacked three schools in the Yawota and Ahoro-Esienle communities of Oriire Local Government Area.
Reacting to the governor’s request, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Nigeria’s security agencies had already provided explanations regarding the rescue operation.
Speaking in an interview with Punch, Onanuga said the Federal Government had no objection if the United Nations chose to examine the incident, but questioned the basis for the governor’s request.
“The Governor has just expressed his opinion that the UN should probe this incident. Our doors are open. Let the UN come if he thinks there is more to it than what our military has explained,” he said.
Onanuga argued that no security agency would deliberately allow schoolchildren to remain in captivity, noting that members of the military and the Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Amotekun, lost their lives during the rescue operation.
“Look at those kids. Some of them are just about four or six years old. Will anyone want to deliberately subject them to the trauma they went through for 56 days?” he asked.
He further accused Makinde, whom he described as a presidential aspirant, of allowing political considerations to influence his position.
“It is just unfortunate that Mr Makinde, maybe because of politics, because he is a presidential candidate now, doesn’t have any trust in our own institutions and is now calling on an external body to come and investigate,” Onanuga said.
He described the governor’s request as “unwarranted” and “absolutely unnecessary”, accusing him of attempting to politicise the incident.
Makinde defends call for international scrutiny
Makinde, however, insisted that an independent international investigation was necessary to establish the facts surrounding the abduction and restore public confidence.
In remarks shared after the rescued pupils and teachers were handed over to the Oyo State Government, the governor called on the United Nations and other international human rights and accountability bodies to investigate the incident.
“The circumstances surrounding this incident are sufficiently grave and unusual to warrant independent scrutiny beyond our domestic institutions,” he said.
Makinde stressed that his request was not intended to undermine Nigeria’s institutions but to ensure accountability.
“Such scrutiny is not intended to undermine our institutions. Rather, it is intended to reinforce public confidence that the truth will be established and that every person found to bear responsibility, regardless of office, influence or affiliation, will be held accountable,” he said.
He also reminded the Federal Government that responsibility for national security rests with the Federal Government under the Constitution.
According to the governor, Nigerians deserve a full account of the circumstances surrounding the abduction, including whether there were institutional failures, negligence or collusion.
Rejecting suggestions that his position was politically motivated, Makinde said: “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.”
State assumes responsibility for victims
Makinde announced that the Oyo State Government had assumed responsibility for the welfare, medical care, rehabilitation and continued education of the rescued pupils and teachers.
He thanked President Bola Tinubu and the country’s security agencies for their efforts in securing the victims’ release.
The governor said the victims would remain under medical observation for between 24 and 48 hours before reuniting with their families and assured that the state would work with the management of the affected private school to minimise disruption to the education of the pupils and the careers of the teachers.
Army outlines rescue operation
Earlier, the General Officer Commanding 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Chinedu Nnebeife, said the successful operation resulted from sustained collaboration among the military, police, the Department of State Services, Amotekun, local vigilantes and other security agencies.
He said the operation, which followed directives from President Tinubu and Governor Makinde, required ground troops after aerial surveillance proved ineffective because of the dense forest where the victims were held.
Nnebeife disclosed that two soldiers were killed and several others injured during the operation.
Victims recount ordeal
One of the rescued teachers, the Principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esienle, Mrs Rachael Alamu, described the 56-day captivity as traumatic.
She alleged that the abductors killed the school’s mathematics teacher, Michael Oyedokun, to intimidate security forces and demonstrate their resolve.
Alamu said the victims were transported through forests on motorcycles after being forced to walk for about an hour, adding that the experience had left her uncertain about returning to work in a rural community.
Opposition parties back Makinde
Meanwhile, four opposition parties—the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Young Progressives Party (YPP)—backed Makinde’s call for an independent investigation.
The parties said establishing the full facts surrounding the abduction would strengthen public confidence, ensure accountability and help prevent similar incidents.
However, the Labour Party opposed the proposal.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ken Asogwa, said any investigation should remain the responsibility of Nigeria’s security agencies rather than the United Nations.
He argued that involving an international body in the investigation could raise concerns about Nigeria’s sovereignty and urged the governor to share any additional intelligence he possessed with the Department of State Services and the police.
Alaafin visits rescued pupils
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, also visited the rescued pupils and teachers on Monday at the military medical facility in Ibadan.
The monarch commended the Nigerian Army and other security agencies for securing the victims’ release and praised their efforts in tackling terrorism and banditry.
He also made cash donations to the victims and expressed appreciation to traditional rulers for supporting efforts that led to their rescue.
