By Editor
President Bola Tinubu has criticised Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde over his call for a United Nations-led investigation into the abduction of 39 pupils and six teachers in Oriire Local Government Area, describing the request as politically motivated and unnecessary.
The President's position was conveyed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who argued that the governor's demand suggested a lack of confidence in Nigeria's security institutions despite their role in rescuing the victims after 56 days in captivity.
Speaking in an interview with The PUNCH, Onanuga said the Federal Government had no objection if the United Nations chose to investigate the incident but questioned the rationale behind the governor's appeal.
"The governor has just expressed his opinion that the UN should probe this incident. 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 maintained that there was no reason for the country's security agencies to deliberately allow schoolchildren and teachers to remain in captivity for nearly two months, noting that some security operatives reportedly lost their lives during efforts to secure their release.
According to Onanuga, the military and the Department of State Services (DSS) had already provided accounts of the rescue operation, making calls for an international investigation unnecessary.
He described Makinde's position as "unwarranted" and "absolutely unnecessary," alleging that the governor's stance was influenced by political ambitions.
"It is just unfortunate that Mr Makinde, maybe because of politics, because he is a presidential candidate now, doesn't have any trust in our own institutions and is now calling on an external body to come and investigate," he said.
The presidential aide further accused the Oyo governor of politicising the incident.
"The man is just playing politics, and it is the politics of the bizarre. He wants to weaponise anything available, including dredging up a strange conspiracy theory," Onanuga added.
Governor Makinde had earlier called on the United Nations and other international human rights and accountability organisations to independently investigate the circumstances surrounding both the abduction and rescue of the pupils and teachers.
The appeal came shortly after the Federal Government formally handed over the rescued victims to the Oyo State Government at the State Secretariat.
According to Makinde, the nature of the incident warranted independent scrutiny beyond Nigeria's domestic institutions.
"The circumstances surrounding this incident are sufficiently grave and unusual to warrant independent scrutiny beyond our domestic institutions," the governor said.
He, however, clarified that his request was not intended to undermine Nigeria's security agencies but to promote transparency, establish the full facts surrounding the incident and restore public confidence.
The 45 victims 39 pupils and six teachers were abducted on May 15, 2026, when armed men attacked three schools in the Yawota and Ahoro-Esinle communities of Oriire Local Government Area. They were rescued after spending 56 days in captivity.