The Federal Government has dismissed Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde's request for a United Nations-backed investigation into the abduction of 39 pupils and six teachers in Oriire Local Government Area, insisting that Nigerian security agencies have already provided sufficient explanations on how the victims regained their freedom after spending 56 days in captivity.
The Presidency said the governor's demand was unnecessary and questioned why Nigeria's security institutions should be subjected to international scrutiny over an operation that claimed the lives of security personnel and eventually secured the safe release of the victims. Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga maintained that there was nothing preventing the United Nations from examining the incident if the governor believed additional facts remained unresolved, but stressed that the request reflected a lack of confidence in the country's security architecture.
According to Onanuga, the rescue mission required extensive coordination among the military, the Department of State Services, the police, Amotekun and other security agencies. He said several operatives paid the ultimate price during the operation, making it unreasonable to suggest that authorities deliberately prolonged the victims' ordeal. He described as inconceivable any suggestion that children as young as four and six years old would intentionally be left in captivity, particularly when a mathematics teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was killed by the abductors during the incident.
The presidential aide also accused Makinde of allowing political considerations to influence his position, arguing that the governor's call for an international investigation was unwarranted because security agencies had already briefed the public on the circumstances surrounding the rescue.
Governor Makinde made the appeal after the rescued teachers and pupils were formally handed over to the Oyo State Government on Monday. He argued that the unusual nature of the abduction justified an independent examination by international human rights and accountability bodies, including agencies within the United Nations system.
The governor explained that his request was aimed at strengthening public confidence rather than discrediting Nigerian institutions. He said Nigerians deserved a transparent account of how the abduction occurred, whether there were institutional failures, negligence or collusion, and what steps would be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future. Makinde also reminded the Federal Government that responsibility for national security rests with its agencies under the Nigerian Constitution and insisted that his demand was motivated by justice for the victims rather than politics.
Following the transfer of the rescued victims to the state government, Makinde announced that Oyo State had assumed responsibility for their medical treatment, psychological rehabilitation, welfare and continued education. He assured families that the government would work with the management of the affected private school to prevent disruption to the careers of the teachers and the education of the pupils. He added that the victims would remain under medical observation for between 24 and 48 hours before reuniting with their families.
The governor thanked President Bola Tinubu and the leadership of the nation's security agencies for their efforts in securing the victims' release. He described the incident as the first school abduction of its kind since he assumed office more than seven years ago and expressed hope that such an occurrence would never happen again in the state.
Providing details of the operation, General Officer Commanding 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Chinedu Nnebeife, said security forces pursued the kidnappers from the first day of the attack but faced significant challenges because the victims were hidden deep inside forests. He said aerial surveillance proved ineffective due to dense vegetation, leading to the deployment of ground troops.
Nnebeife disclosed that the operation involved the military, police, DSS, Amotekun, local vigilantes and other security formations. He confirmed that two soldiers were killed while others sustained injuries, including one officer whose arm was fractured by a gunshot. According to him, security agencies dismantled the abductors' logistics network by tracking their collaborators across states including Adamawa and Kano before cutting off their main supply base in Ashamu, a move that forced the kidnappers to release the victims unconditionally. He added that security forces remain committed to eliminating terrorist activities in the region beyond the successful rescue mission.
One of the rescued victims, Mrs Rachael Alamu, Principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esienle, recounted the traumatic experience endured by the captives. She said the abductees were transported through remote forests, forced to travel at night and witnessed the youngest children suffer severe beatings. According to her, the kidnappers killed mathematics teacher Michael Oyedokun to frighten security agencies and demonstrate the seriousness of their threats.
Mrs Alamu explained that after being seized, the victims travelled for hours on motorcycles and bicycles through unfamiliar forest routes before reaching their destination. She admitted that the experience had left her uncertain about returning to work in remote communities despite having only four years left before retirement.
The attack occurred on 15 May 2026 when armed bandits invaded three schools in the Yawota and Ahoro Esienle communities of Oriire Local Government Area, abducting 39 pupils and six teachers before their eventual rescue after 56 days.
The debate over Makinde's proposal also drew political reactions across party lines. The Nigeria Democratic Congress, All Progressives Grand Alliance, Social Democratic Party and Young Progressives Party endorsed the governor's request, arguing that an independent investigation would help establish the truth, ensure justice for the victims and strengthen confidence in efforts to combat insecurity.
In contrast, the Labour Party opposed international involvement, insisting that the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force should conduct any further investigation. The party argued that inviting the United Nations into Nigeria's internal security matters could raise concerns over the country's sovereignty and urged the governor to disclose any additional intelligence in his possession if he believed crucial facts remained hidden.
Meanwhile, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, visited the rescued pupils and teachers in Ibadan, where he commended the Nigerian Army and other security agencies for their determination in securing the victims' release. The monarch also donated cash to the victims and praised the military's intelligence-driven operations against terrorist groups while acknowledging the contributions of traditional rulers who supported efforts to secure the captives' freedom.
ADEOLA KUNLE
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