The Presidency has criticised Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde over his call for a United Nations-led investigation into the abduction of teachers and pupils in Oriire Local Government Area, describing the request as unnecessary and politically motivated.
Governor Makinde made the call on Monday while officially receiving the 45 rescued victims—39 pupils and six teachers—who spent 56 days in captivity after being abducted by armed bandits on May 15, 2026.
The gunmen had attacked three schools in the Yawota and Ahoro-Esienle communities of Oriire Local Government Area, triggering one of the most disturbing school kidnappings recorded in Oyo State.
Speaking after the victims were handed over to the state government, Makinde said the circumstances surrounding the abduction and eventual rescue required an independent international investigation to establish the full facts.
According to the governor, Nigerians deserve to know what happened, whether there were institutional failures, negligence or collusion, and what measures should be taken to prevent a recurrence.
He stressed that his appeal was not intended to undermine Nigeria’s security institutions but to strengthen public confidence through transparency and accountability.
“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 governor also reminded the Federal Government that responsibility for national security rests with it under the Constitution and maintained that an independent review would help reassure the public.
However, the Presidency rejected the proposal.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Nigeria’s security agencies had already explained the rescue operation and that there was no justification for an international probe.
He argued that the military, the Department of State Services and other security agencies had carried out an extensive operation that eventually secured the victims’ freedom after weeks of intense pursuit.
Onanuga noted that the operation claimed the lives of security personnel, including soldiers and Amotekun operatives, insisting that no security agency would deliberately allow innocent children and teachers to remain in captivity.
He said the Federal Government had no objection if the United Nations wished to examine the incident, but described the governor’s request as unnecessary.
According to him, Makinde’s position reflected a lack of confidence in Nigeria’s institutions and appeared to be influenced by politics.
“The Governor has expressed his opinion. If he believes there is more to the incident than what our security agencies have explained, the doors are open. But we consider the call unnecessary because the military has already provided an account of what happened,” Onanuga said.
Meanwhile, Governor Makinde announced that the Oyo State Government has officially assumed responsibility for the welfare of the rescued teachers and pupils.
He said the victims would receive comprehensive medical treatment, psychological counselling and educational support as part of efforts to help them recover from the trauma of their ordeal.
Makinde also assured that the state government would work with the management of the affected private schools to ensure the victims’ education and careers were not disrupted.
Earlier, the General Officer Commanding 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Chinedu Nnebeife, said the successful rescue followed weeks of coordinated operations involving the Nigerian Army, Police, Department of State Services, Amotekun, local vigilantes and other security agencies.
He explained that the victims were held deep inside forests, making aerial surveillance ineffective and forcing troops to conduct prolonged ground operations.
According to him, two soldiers were killed while others sustained injuries during the rescue mission.
Nnebeife added that security forces dismantled the kidnappers’ supply routes, tracked members of their network across several states and eventually cut off their logistics base, forcing the abductors to release the victims without conditions.
One of the rescued victims, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, Principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esienle, described their captivity as a terrifying experience.
She revealed that the abductors forced them to trek through forests at night, while the children endured severe hardship and beatings.
Alamu also disclosed that the kidnappers killed mathematics teacher Michael Oyedokun during captivity to intimidate security forces and demonstrate the seriousness of their demands.
She admitted that returning to work in rural communities would be emotionally difficult after the traumatic experience.
The rescued teachers and pupils are currently receiving medical care and psychological evaluation before being reunited with their families.
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