The Presidency on Monday criticised Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde over his call for a United Nations-led investigation into the abduction of pupils and teachers in the state, describing the demand as unnecessary and politically motivated.
Makinde, while formally assuming responsibility for the welfare, rehabilitation and education of the 45 teachers and pupils rescued after spending 56 days in captivity on Monday, called for a UN-backed investigation into the abduction, saying Nigerians deserved a full account of the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Armed bandits had on May 15, 2026 attacked three schools in Yawota and Ahoro Esienle communities in Oriire Local Government Area, Oyo State, abducting the 39 pupils and six teachers.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the governor’s request suggested a lack of confidence in Nigeria’s security institutions, insisting that the military and other security agencies had already provided explanations on the rescue operation.
Onanuga, in an exclusive interview, said the Presidency had no objection to an international body examining the incident if Makinde believed there were unresolved issues.
“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.
He, however, questioned the basis for the governor’s demand, arguing that security agencies had no reason to deliberately subject Nigerians, especially children, to prolonged captivity.
According to him, the rescue operation came at a cost, with some security personnel, including members of the military and Amotekun, losing their lives while pursuing the abductors.
Onanuga said it was “unthinkable” that anyone would deliberately conspire to expose the victims to the 56-day ordeal, including the killing of a mathematics teacher during captivity.
“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.
The presidential spokesman accused Makinde, who is a presidential aspirant, of allowing political considerations to influence his call for an international probe.
“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,” he said.
Onanuga added that the military and the Department of State Services had already disclosed what they knew about the incident, describing the governor’s demand as “unwarranted” and “absolutely unnecessary.”
He accused Makinde of attempting to politicise the matter, saying, “The man is just playing politics, and it is the politics of the bizarre. He wants to weaponise anything available, including dredging up a strange conspiracy theory.”
Makinde called on the UN and other international human rights and accountability bodies to investigate the abduction of the pupils and teachers in a video shared by Oyo Affairs on Monday following the arrival of the rescued pupils and teachers at the Oyo State Secretariat after their handover by the Federal Government.
“The circumstances surrounding this incident are sufficiently grave and unusual to warrant independent scrutiny beyond our domestic institution.
“I therefore, with a full sense of responsibility as the Executive Governor of Oyo State, 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,” Makinde said.
He explained that the call for international scrutiny was aimed at ensuring accountability rather than discrediting Nigerian institutions.
“Such scrutiny is not intended to undermine our institution. 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,” the governor said.
Makinde also reminded the Federal Government of its constitutional responsibility for national security.
“Under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the primary responsibility for national security rests with the Federal Government and the security agencies under its command,” he said.
According to him, Nigerians deserve a full account of the circumstances surrounding the abduction and its resolution.
“The Nigerian people, therefore, deserve a full and transparent account of what happened, who was responsible, whether there were institutional failures, negligence or collusion at any level, and what measures must now be taken to ensure that no community is ever subjected to such an ordeal again.
Insisting that his demand was not politically motivated, Makinde added: “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,” Makinde said.
The rescued pupils and teachers arrived at the Oyo State Secretariat in Ibadan on Monday after being formally handed over to the Oyo State Government by the Federal Government.
Opposition backs Makinde
Four opposition parties — the Nigeria Democratic Congress, All Progressives Grand Alliance, the Social Democratic Party and the Young Progressives Party — have backed Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde’s call for a United Nations-led investigation into the recent abduction of pupils and teachers in the state.
The parties said an independent probe would help establish the facts surrounding the incident, ensure justice for the victims and strengthen public confidence in efforts to address insecurity.
The National Publicity Secretary of the NDC, Osa Director, backed a thorough investigation into the incident, saying those responsible must be identified and brought to justice.
“The truth is that whenever a crime is committed, there should be a thorough investigation so that those found culpable can face the full wrath of the law. Perhaps, because of the perceived failure of our judicial system, Governor Seyi Makinde has lost confidence in it and is now calling for the United Nations to intervene.
“As a party, we support a proper investigation to uncover the truth and ensure that those responsible are punished. Whether it is the UN, the Nigerian judiciary or any other credible institutions that can help achieve justice, what matters is that the perpetrators are identified and held accountable,” he 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,” the governor said.
The National Publicity Secretary of APGA, Ejimofor Opara, said the priority should be bringing the perpetrators to justice.
“Whatever it is that will bring the perpetrators to justice is a welcome development,” he said.
Similarly, the National Publicity Secretary of the SDP, Rufus Aiyenigba, supported a broader investigation into the country’s worsening security situation.
“The continued kidnappings and killings across Nigeria should be probed,” he said.
The National Publicity Secretary of the YPP, Wale Egbeola-Martins, also endorsed Makinde’s position, saying the party saw nothing wrong with an independent investigation into the abduction.
“Any effort aimed at uncovering the truth, identifying the perpetrators, ensuring justice for the victims and preventing a recurrence of such tragic incidents deserves support,” he said.
Egbeola-Martins added that accountability and transparency were critical to rebuilding public confidence in Nigeria’s security institutions and improving the country’s response to insecurity.
“Our priority should be the safety of Nigerians, justice for victims and the implementation of measures that will prevent similar incidents in the future,” he said.
LP faults Makinde
However, the National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Ken Asogwa, faulted Makinde’s call for international intervention, insisting that the investigation should remain within the jurisdiction of Nigeria’s security agencies.
“As much as I want a thorough probe into the kidnapping of the children in Oyo State so Nigerians can know exactly what transpired, I think it is unnecessary to invite the United Nations to meddle in our internal security matters,” he said.
Asogwa argued that an international investigation could trigger concerns about Nigeria’s sovereignty, recalling public outrage over foreign military involvement in security operations in the country.
He maintained that if the governor had information beyond what security agencies had disclosed, he should make it public.
“If, in his position as the state’s chief security officer, Governor Makinde has intelligence suggesting there is more to the incident than what Nigerians have been told, then he owes it to the public to disclose it,” he said.
According to him, the governor should instead press the Department of State Services and the police to conduct a comprehensive investigation.
“I don’t think it is right to invite the United Nations to probe our domestic security issues. Makinde should be asking the DSS and the police to thoroughly investigate the kidnapping and unravel whatever he believes remains unexplained,” Asogwa added.
The PUNCH