By Friday Temitope Eugenia
National News – The Presidency and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde have clashed over the governor’s call for a United Nations-backed investigation into the abduction of 39 pupils and six teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of the state.
The Presidency described the request as unnecessary and politically motivated, insisting that Nigerian security agencies had already provided sufficient explanations regarding the rescue operation.
Governor Makinde made the call on Monday while formally receiving the rescued teachers and pupils, who regained their freedom after spending 56 days in captivity. He said Nigerians deserved a 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.
Reacting to the governor’s position, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the Federal Government had no objection if the United Nations chose to examine the incident but questioned the need for such an investigation.
“Our doors are open. If Governor Makinde believes there are unresolved issues beyond what the military has explained, the UN is free to come,” Onanuga said.
He maintained that the military and other security agencies had sacrificed greatly to secure the victims’ release, noting that some soldiers and members of the Amotekun Corps lost their lives during the operation.
According to him, it was inconceivable that any security agency would deliberately allow children to remain in captivity for nearly two months.
Onanuga also accused Makinde, who is seeking the presidency in 2027, of politicising the incident.
He said the governor’s comments reflected a lack of confidence in Nigeria’s institutions and described the demand for an international investigation as “absolutely unnecessary.”
Speaking during the reception of the rescued victims, Makinde insisted that an independent investigation was necessary to determine whether there were institutional failures, negligence or collusion that contributed to the incident.
“The circumstances surrounding this incident are sufficiently grave and unusual to warrant independent scrutiny beyond our domestic institutions,” the governor said.
He stressed that his request was not intended to undermine Nigeria’s institutions but to strengthen public confidence through accountability and transparency.
“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 added.
Makinde also reminded the Federal Government that the Constitution places primary responsibility for national security on the Federal Government and its security agencies.
The governor announced that the Oyo State Government had taken full responsibility for the welfare, rehabilitation and education of the rescued pupils and teachers.
He assured that the victims would receive comprehensive medical care, psychological counselling and educational support until they fully recovered from their traumatic experience.
Makinde also thanked President Bola Tinubu and the nation’s security agencies for their efforts in securing the release of the victims.
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, Department of State Services, Amotekun Corps and local vigilantes.
He disclosed that the operation claimed the lives of two soldiers while several others sustained injuries, adding that security forces tracked the kidnappers across multiple states before eventually forcing them to release the victims.
One of the rescued teachers and Principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esienle, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, recounted the victims’ ordeal, revealing that they trekked through forests at night and endured severe hardship during captivity.
She disclosed that the kidnappers killed mathematics teacher, Mr. Michael Oyedokun, to intimidate security operatives and demonstrate their resolve.
Alamu said the traumatic experience had left her uncertain about returning to teach in remote communities.
Meanwhile, opposition parties, including the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Young Progressives Party (YPP), supported Makinde’s call for an independent investigation, arguing that it would help establish the truth and strengthen public confidence.
However, the Labour Party rejected the proposal, insisting that the investigation should remain within the jurisdiction of Nigerian security agencies.
Its National Publicity Secretary, Ken Asogwa, said inviting the United Nations to investigate a domestic security matter could raise concerns about Nigeria’s sovereignty, urging the governor to instead push for a thorough investigation by the Department of State Services and the police.
Also on Monday, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, visited the rescued pupils and teachers in Ibadan, where he commended the Nigerian military and other security agencies for their efforts in securing the victims’ release.
The monarch also presented cash gifts to the victims and praised the security agencies for their intelligence-driven operations against terrorist and criminal groups.
