Oyo Pupils’ Abduction: Nigerian military has already given details of rescue mission, no need for UN intervention — Presidency blasts Gov. Makinde

The Presidency has 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, politically motivated and a vote of no confidence in Nigeria’s security institutions.

Governor Makinde made the call on Monday while formally receiving 45 pupils and teachers who regained their freedom after spending 56 days in captivity following their abduction by armed bandits.

The victims were kidnapped on May 15, 2026, when gunmen attacked three schools in Yawota and Ahoro-Esienle communities in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, abducting 39 pupils and six teachers.

Speaking after the victims were handed over to the state government, Makinde urged international human rights and accountability bodies, including the United Nations, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the abduction and the rescue operation.

According to the governor, Nigerians deserve a full and transparent account of what transpired, including whether there were institutional failures, negligence or collusion.

He maintained that the request was not intended to undermine Nigeria’s security agencies but to strengthen public confidence in the truth and ensure 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.

However, reacting to the governor’s position, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, faulted the call, insisting that the military and other security agencies had already provided sufficient explanations regarding the rescue operation.

“Our doors are open. Let the UN come if he thinks there is more to it than what our military has explained,” Onanuga said.

He questioned the rationale behind the demand, arguing that no security agency would deliberately allow innocent children to remain in captivity for 56 days.

According to him, several security personnel, including soldiers and members of the Amotekun Corps, paid the ultimate price during the rescue mission.

“It is unthinkable that anyone would deliberately subject innocent children to such trauma. Some of our security personnel died in the process of rescuing them,” he stated.

Onanuga accused Makinde, who is reportedly seeking the presidency in 2027, of allowing politics to influence his comments.

“It is unfortunate that Mr Makinde, perhaps because he is now a presidential aspirant, does not have confidence in our institutions and is inviting external bodies to investigate. The demand is absolutely unnecessary,” he said.

The presidential spokesman further accused the governor of attempting to politicise the incident by promoting what he described as an unfounded conspiracy theory.

Meanwhile, Governor Makinde assured that the Oyo State Government had assumed full responsibility for the welfare, rehabilitation and continued education of the rescued teachers and pupils.

He said the victims would receive medical care, psychological support and educational assistance until they fully recovered from their traumatic experience.

Although the affected school is privately owned, Makinde pledged to engage its management to ensure that the careers of the teachers and the education of the pupils were not disrupted.

The rescued victims were later transferred to the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital in Ogbomoso for further medical evaluation before being reunited with their families.

Earlier, the General Officer Commanding 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Chinedu Nnebeife, said the successful rescue followed 56 days of coordinated operations involving the Nigerian Army, the Police, the Department of State Services, Amotekun, local vigilantes and other security agencies.

He disclosed that the operation claimed the lives of two soldiers, while others sustained injuries.

According to him, security forces dismantled the logistics network of the abductors, blocked their supply routes and mounted sustained pressure that eventually forced them to release the victims unconditionally.

One of the rescued teachers, Mrs Rachael Alamu, narrated the harrowing experience in captivity, revealing that the abductors killed a mathematics teacher, Mr Michael Oyedokun, to send a message to the government and discourage rescue efforts.

She recounted how the victims trekked through forests for hours, travelled on motorcycles deep into remote locations and lived in constant fear throughout their captivity.

The governor’s call for an international investigation has drawn mixed reactions across the political landscape.

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Young Progressives Party (YPP) backed the proposal, arguing that an independent investigation would help establish the truth, ensure justice for victims and strengthen public confidence in Nigeria’s security architecture.

However, the Labour Party opposed the idea, insisting that investigations into the incident should remain the responsibility of Nigeria’s security agencies.

Labour Party National Publicity Secretary, Ken Asogwa, argued that inviting the United Nations to investigate a domestic security matter could raise questions about Nigeria’s sovereignty, urging the governor instead to press the Department of State Services and the Police to conduct a comprehensive probe.

Also on Monday, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, visited the rescued pupils and teachers, commending the Nigerian military and other security agencies for their commitment to the rescue operation.

The monarch also donated cash to the victims and praised the efforts of traditional rulers who worked behind the scenes towards securing their release.

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