Makinde to UN: Investigate Oyo school abduction, rescue operation

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has called on the United Nations (UN) and other international human rights and accountability bodies to investigate the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area, insisting that Nigerians deserve a full and transparent account of what transpired before and after the victims were rescued.

In a statewide broadcast following the rescue and reunion of the abducted pupils and teachers with their families after 56 days in captivity, Makinde said the circumstances surrounding the mass abduction and its eventual resolution were too grave to be left to domestic institutions alone.

“The circumstances surrounding this abduction are sufficiently grave and unusual to warrant independent scrutiny beyond our domestic institutions,” the governor said.

“Therefore, with a full sense of responsibility as the Executive Governor of Oyo State, I 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 stressed that his request was not intended to undermine Nigeria’s institutions but to strengthen public confidence by ensuring that the truth is established and anyone found culpable is held accountable.

“Such scrutiny is not intended to undermine our institutions. Rather, it is intended to reinforce public confidence that the truth will be established and that every person found responsible, regardless of office, influence or affiliation, will be held accountable,” he said.

The governor noted that under Nigeria’s Constitution, responsibility for national security rests with the Federal Government and the security agencies under its command.

“The Nigerian people therefore deserve a full, transparent and credible 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 that no community is ever subjected to such a tragedy again,” he stated.

Makinde described the return of the abducted pupils and teachers as a moment of relief and thanksgiving but said the state was still grieving over the deaths of two teachers during the ordeal.

Makinde warned residents against relaxing their guard, saying criminal groups could attempt to strike again.

“The threat posed by criminal elements has not disappeared. We must not allow this moment of relief to become a moment of complacency. Security is everyone’s responsibility,” he said, urging residents to report suspicious activities through security agencies or the state’s toll-free emergency line, 615.

As part of measures to prevent a recurrence, the governor announced that the state government would strengthen security around communities bordering the Old Oyo National Park, which he said has become vulnerable to exploitation by criminal elements.

According to him, the government will tighten surveillance on access routes into and out of the park, improve intelligence gathering, deepen collaboration with local communities and security agencies, and introduce new protocols to deny criminals safe operational bases.

Makinde assured parents that his administration would continue to take every lawful step to make schools and communities safer.

“This is not about politics. It is about justice for the victims, reassurance for our people and restoring confidence that every Nigerian child can go to school without fear,” he said.