The president yesterday slammed Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, over his call for the United Nations to investigate the kidnapping of kids and teachers in the state, branding the proposal as unwarranted and politically driven.
The PUNCH reports that Makinde, who officially took charge of the welfare, rehabilitation and education of the 45 teachers and pupils rescued after spending 56 days in captivity yesterday, demanded a UN-backed investigation into the abduction, saying Nigerians deserved to be fully informed about the circumstances surrounding the incident.
On May 15, 2026, 39 kids and six teachers were kidnapped when armed bandits invaded three schools in the Yawota and Ahoro Esienle towns of Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said the governor’s request meant that he lacked faith in Nigeria’s security institutions, but added that the military and other security agencies had already given explanations on the rescue effort. Executive Branch
In an exclusive conversation with our correspondent, Onanuga said the Presidency had no problem with an international body probing the incident if Makinde felt there were unsolved concerns.
“The governor just expressed his opinion that the United Nations should investigate this incident. We’re here. “If he believes there is more than what our military has explained, let the UN come,” he said.
But he questioned the premise behind the governor’s proposal, saying there was no reason security forces would want to keep Nigerians especially children in protracted custody.
“The rescue operation was expensive as some security operatives including military and Amotekun personnel lost their lives in the pursuit of the abductors,” he said.
No one would wilfully plan to subject the victims to the 56-day experience, including the killing of a mathematics teacher while in custody, Onanuga added. It was “unthinkable”.
“Look at those kids. Some are as little as four or six years. Who’s gonna want to put kids through the agony they went through purposely for 56 days?”” he asked.
The presidential spokesperson accused Mr Makinde, a presidential hopeful, of allowing political concerns to influence his call for an international probe.
“It is unfortunate that Mr Makinde, probably because of politics, because he is a presidential candidate now, has no trust in our own institutions and is calling for an external body to come and investigate,” he said.
Onanuga said that the military and the Department of State Services had already told their stories about the incident, describing the governor’s demand as “unwarranted” and “absolutely unnecessary”.
He accused Makinde of playing politics over the subject, stating, “The man is just playing politics, and it is the politics of the bizarre. He’ll weaponise whatever he can get his hands on, even dredge up a weird conspiracy idea”
The rescued pupils and teachers were handed over to the federal government and arrived at the Oyo State Secretariat yesterday. In a video shared by Oyo Affairs, Makinde called on the UN and other international human rights and accountability bodies to investigate the abduction of the pupils and teachers.
“The circumstances of this incident are sufficiently grave and unusual to warrant independent scrutiny outside of 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 desire for international inspection was to ensure accountability, not to undermine Nigerian institutions. Population and Demography
“This kind of scrutiny is not meant to undermine our institution. Rather, he said it is meant to give the public confidence that the truth will come out and that everyone found responsible, no matter their office, influence or affiliation, will be held accountable,” the governor said.
Makinde also reminded the federal government of its constitutional commitment to national security.
“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria confers primary responsibility for national security on the federal government and the security agencies under its control,” he stated.
He said Nigerians deserved a detailed account of the circumstances of the kidnapping and its conclusion.
“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 no community is ever subjected to such an ordeal again. Population statistics
Makinde argued that his demand was not political and added: ‘This is not politics. Makinde added, “This 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 kids and teachers rescued were formally handed over to the Oyo State administration by the federal government as they arrived at the Oyo State Secretariat, Ibadan on Monday.
Welfare of victims
The governor said the Oyo State government had formally taken over the welfare of the rescued teachers and kids of Oriire Local Government Area, promising them medical, psychological and educational help until they had healed.
The governor offered the promise during the formal handing over of the victims by the military to the state at the Government House, Ibadan, following their liberation after 56 days in captivity.
He commended President Bola Tinubu and the leadership of the country’s security services for their involvement in ensuring the victims’ liberation. Executive Branch
He stated, “On behalf of the government and people of Oyo State, I sincerely thank the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for his support and the leadership of all the security agencies for working together to secure the safe return of the teachers and pupils.
“I have been governor for over seven years and this is the first time we have seen an incident of this nature.” He added the abduction was unusual in the state. “I pray, really, it will be the last.”
He acknowledged the difficult road to rehabilitation for the victims but assured them the state will continue to support them.
“We will be talking to the management of the school, which is privately run, to make sure the careers of the teachers or the education of the pupils involved is not affected. “We’ll be here with you every step of this recovery,” he stated.
The victims would be kept for 24 to 48 hours for medical observation before being reunited with their relatives, the governor said.
And we want to make sure that everybody is medically ready to go home. He said, “On behalf of the good people of Oyo State, we now take up the responsibility of the rescued teachers and pupils and will give all the necessary support for their full recovery.”
Yesterday evening, the pupils and teachers arrived at the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso after their handing over to the state administration.
Jubilations again in Ogbomoso as they arrived at the hospital for further medical evaluation and treatment, bringing them closer to their family after their trauma.
Operation description by army
Major General Chinedu Nnebeife, who is the General Officer Commanding 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, Ibadan, had said the rescue effort was facilitated by the persistent collaboration among security agencies, supported by directions from President Tinubu, Governor Makinde and other stakeholders. Demographic Data
“The security forces chased the abductors from the first day but they had gone deep into the forest. “The operation cost the lives of some personnel, but it finally paid off with the rescue of the victims after 56 days,” he stated.
Nnebeufe said the rescue mission was a herculean task that involves the military, police, Department of State Services, Amotekun, local vigilantes and other security formations.
He said ground soldiers were dispatched after airborne surveillance operations could not locate the victims due of the deep wooded terrain where they were being held.
The GOC stated the operation came at a cost with two soldiers dead and others wounded in the course of the mission, adding that one of the injured personnel got a bullet wound that shattered his arm.
He said the operation was mainly targeted at identifying the major players behind the abduction and choking their supply sources and informants within the Old Oyo National Park and other places.
He stated that security forces also pursued associates of the terrorists and members of their networks in several states like Adamawa and Kano, putting pressure on the gang.
Nnebeufe also said the last step of the operation was the blockade of the group’s primary logistics base in Ashamu which eventually prompted the abductors to release the children and teachers unconditionally.
However, he insisted the goal of the operation was not just to rescue the victims, saying security forces were still intent on stopping terrorist operations in the region.
The ordeal of abductees
One of the victims, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, Principal of the Community High School, Ahoro-Esienle, told journalists after the handover following their rescue from captivity that they trekked through forests at night, slept in fear and watched the youngest children take the worst of the beatings.
She said the robbers assassinated their mathematics instructor, Mr. Michael Oyedokun, so as to scare away security agents and also send a clear message to the government that they were serious.
She stated, “One of the teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was killed by the kidnappers to scare away the security agencies and to send a clear message to the government that they were serious.”
“It was a terrible experience to bear,” Mrs Alamu confessed, adding that the victims were able to explore the forest after they were seized.
“She said my car was used to take us to a point and then we were taken. It was there we met the main pupils and the teacher. So we had to walk for like an hour. They came bikes and motorcycles, maybe 10 of them, and we all piled on. We rode for nearly four hours through an unexplored path but they knew their way.
She was not looking forward to going to work in the countryside following the awful episode of the kidnap.
”Going to the rural area now is the grace of God. I am four years old and I have been working for 28 years. Maybe I can get past it with time. But that place is far away, going that vast distance between that place and Ogbomoso, therefore I suffered a lot in terms of transportation. Now paired with this, I don’t know what’s going to happen for now.”
Present also were the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Bayo Lawal; the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State, Abimbola Olugbenga; other service commanders; the Director, Department of State Services; the Garrison Commander; Commander 655 Base Services Group; the Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Comptroller of Customs. Demographic
Others are the Comptroller of Immigration, Comptroller of Correctional Service, Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, members of the Special Forces from Abuja, the Secretary to the Oyo State Government, members of the State Executive Council, commissioners, political office- holders, Chief Medical Director of the 2 Division Medical Services and Hospital among other dignitaries.
Opposition Supports Makinde
Four opposition parties – the Nigeria Democratic Congress, All Progressives Grand Alliance, Social Democratic Party and Young Progressives Party – have supported the call of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, for a United Nations-led investigation into the recent abduction of pupils and teachers in the state.
The parties agreed that an independent investigation will assist establish the facts of the incident, secure justice for the victims and reinforce public faith in efforts to tackle insecurity.
Osa Director, the National Publicity Secretary of the NDC, supported a thorough inquiry into the incident, saying those behind it must be found and brought to book.
In fact, anytime a crime is committed, there needs to be a thorough investigation so that those found guilty can face the full wrath of the law. Maybe Governor Seyi Makinde lost trust in our judicial system, because of the apparent failure of our court system, and is now pushing for the United Nations to intervene.
“As a party we are for a proper investigation so that the truth comes out and those involved are punished. “Whether it is the UN, the Nigerian judiciary or any other credible institutions that can help achieve justice, what is important is that the perpetrators are identified and held accountable,” he added. Demographic
“This is not about politics. “It is about justice to victims, reassurance to our people and restoring public confidence that every Nigerian child can go to school without fear,” the governor stated.
“The priority should be to bring the perpetrators to justice,” stated the National Publicity Secretary of APGA, Mr. Ejimofor Opara.
“Any development that brings the perpetrators to justice is a welcome development,” he said.
Likewise, the National Publicity Secretary of the SDP, Mr. Rufus Aiyenigba, also called for a wider probe into the country’s deteriorating security situation.
“There should be an investigation into the continuous kidnappings and killings in Nigeria,” he stated.
The National Publicity Secretary of the YPP, Wale Egbeola-Martins also supported Makinde’s position, stating the party saw nothing wrong with an independent probe into the kidnapping.
“Every attempt to uncover the truth, to identify the perpetrators, to bring justice to the victims and to prevent the recurrence of such tragic incidents deserves to be supported”, he said.
Accountability and transparency, according to Egbeola-Martins, are vital to winning back the confidence of the people in Nigeria’s security institutions and enhancing the country’s response to insecurity. Demographic
“The priority should be the safety of Nigerians, justice for victims and the implementation of measures that will stop future occurrences,” he stated.
LP faults Makinde over high cost of living
But the Labour Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ken Asogwa, disagreed with Makinde’s request for international assistance, arguing that the inquiry be left to Nigeria’s security services.
“I want a thorough investigation into the kidnapping of the children in Oyo State so that Nigerians will know what happened, but I don’t think it is necessary to invite the United Nations to meddle in our internal security matters,” he added.
Asogwa said the engagement of international investigators might raise questions about Nigeria’s sovereignty, citing the public outcry over foreign military involvement in the country’s security operations.
“If the governor has information that is not known by the security agencies, he should release it,” he said.
“Governor Makinde should be open with the public by saying if he has any intelligence, as the chief security officer of the state, that there is more to the incident than what has been told Nigerians.
The governor should rather direct the Department of State Services and the police to carry out a thorough inquiry, he said.
“I don’t think it’s right to ask the United Nations to investigate our internal security issues. Asogwa said, “Let Makinde ask the DSS and the police to thoroughly investigate the kidnapping and find out what he thinks has not been explained.
Alaafin visits victims
Oba Akeem Owoade, the Alaafin of Oyo, visited the rescued schoolchildren and teachers in Ibadan yesterday, praising the Nigerian Army and other security agencies for their tireless commitments and significant contributions to the fight against terrorism and counter insurgency operations in Nigeria.
This was contained in a statement released by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, in Ibadan, the state capital. Alaafin also made cash donations to the victims during his visit to the medical facilities at 2 Division, Odogbo Cantonment in Akinyele Local Government Area of the state.
“Our military is making critical progress in the fight against terrorism through aggressive intelligence-led operations and precision airstrikes that are continuously degrading the insurgent logistics networks,” he said.
“Disrupting terrorist networks by the military and other security agencies, recent success deserves praise for their innovative, intelligence-driven tactics that have been effective in neutralising insurgent threats.
The chief ruler also applauded what he called the “relentlessness of other monarchs in freeing the pupils from the bandits’ den.”
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