The Presidency has sharply criticized Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde’s call for a United Nations-backed investigation into the recent abduction of school pupils and teachers in the state, dismissing the request as an “unnecessary” and “politically motivated” move.
The controversy follows the rescue of 44 pupils and teachers on July 10, 2026, after they had spent 56 days in captivity following their abduction on May 15 from three schools in the Oriire Local Government Area. While the nation celebrated the victims’ safe return, Governor Makinde, in a televised broadcast on Monday, declared that the incident’s “grave and unusual” circumstances necessitated independent scrutiny beyond domestic institutions.
”A Dark Mind”
In a robust rebuttal, Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, questioned the governor’s motives. Describing the push for an international probe as a “crazy theory,” Onanuga suggested that the demand reflects a lack of trust in Nigeria’s security apparatus, which he noted had already provided comprehensive accounts of the rescue operation.
“It will only take a very bad mind to be thinking the way he is thinking,” Onanuga stated, adding that it is “unthinkable” that the Federal Government would conspire to expose citizens to such trauma. He emphasized that the operation to free the captives had resulted in the loss of lives among security personnel, including members of the military and the Amotekun Corps, which he argued contradicts any suggestion of state negligence or collusion.
Governance or Politics?
Governor Makinde, who is preparing for the 2027 presidential race as the candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), has maintained that his call for transparency is intended to reinforce public confidence and ensure accountability. He insisted that under the Nigerian Constitution, primary responsibility for national security rests with the Federal Government, and therefore, the public deserves a transparent account of potential institutional failures.
“Such scrutiny is not intended to undermine our institutions,” Makinde asserted. “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”.
A Divided Response
The governor’s stance has drawn varied reactions across the political spectrum:
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- Opposition Backing: Several opposition parties, including the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and the Young Progressives Party (YPP), have voiced their support for an independent, UN-led investigation into the incident.
- Presidency’s Stance: The Presidency has indicated it has no formal objection to international observers if the governor insists, provided they believe there are genuine “unresolved issues” that the military has failed to explain.
- Political Context: Political analysts note that the heightened tension between Makinde and the Tinubu administration underscores the deepening political divide as the 2027 general elections approach.
While the immediate focus of the state government is now on the rehabilitation and welfare of the survivors, the debate over the transparency of the security sector and the scope of external accountability continues to ignite intense national discourse.
