A fresh war of words has broken out between the Presidency and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde over the controversial abduction of dozens of schoolchildren in Oriire Local Government Area, with President Bola Tinubu’s administration dismissing the governor’s call for a United Nations investigation as unnecessary and politically driven.
The disagreement comes just days after 45 victims—39 pupils and six teachers—regained their freedom following nearly two months in captivity.
Presidency Rejects UN Investigation Call
Governor Makinde had urged the United Nations and other international accountability bodies to independently examine the circumstances surrounding the kidnapping and eventual rescue of the pupils and teachers, arguing that the incident raised serious questions that deserved broader scrutiny.
However, the Presidency believes such a move is unwarranted.
Responding to the governor’s position, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Nigerian security agencies had already provided detailed explanations about the rescue mission and had no reason to cover up any aspect of the operation.
Speaking with The PUNCH, Onanuga said the Federal Government would not obstruct any international inquiry if the governor insisted, but questioned the necessity of inviting foreign investigators into the matter.
“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.
‘Security Agencies Paid The Price’
The presidential spokesman stressed that security operatives made significant sacrifices during efforts to free the abducted children.
According to him, soldiers and members of the Oyo State Security Network Agency, popularly known as Amotekun, reportedly lost their lives while pursuing the kidnappers.
He argued that it was illogical to suggest that Nigerian security personnel would deliberately allow innocent children to remain in captivity for 56 days.
“Look at those kids. Some of them are just about four or six years old. Will anyone want to deliberately subject them to the trauma they went through for 56 days?” Onanuga asked.
The Presidency also noted that one of the abducted teachers was killed while the victims were still being held by the kidnappers.
Onanuga Accuses Makinde Of Playing Politics
Beyond questioning the governor’s request, Onanuga accused Makinde of allowing politics to shape his reaction to the incident.
He suggested that the governor’s emergence as a presidential candidate may have influenced his decision to seek an international investigation instead of relying on Nigerian institutions.
According to him, the governor’s comments reflected a lack of confidence in the country’s security architecture.
“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.
Onanuga went further to accuse the governor of attempting to turn the tragic incident into a political weapon against the Federal Government.
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“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,” he added.
Why Makinde Wants International Scrutiny
Governor Makinde made the call shortly after the rescued pupils and teachers were formally handed over to the Oyo State Government following their release.
The children and their teachers had been abducted on May 15, 2026, after gunmen invaded three schools in the Yawota and Ahoro-Esinle communities of Oriire Local Government Area.
While taking responsibility for their rehabilitation, education and welfare, the governor insisted that the circumstances surrounding the kidnapping and rescue were unusual enough to warrant independent international scrutiny.
“The circumstances surrounding this incident are sufficiently grave and unusual to warrant independent scrutiny beyond our domestic institution,” Makinde said.
He maintained that his request should not be interpreted as a vote of no confidence in Nigeria’s institutions but rather as an effort to promote accountability, transparency and restore public trust in the handling of the case.