The Presidency on Monday strongly criticized Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde following his call for a United Nations-led investigation into the abduction of school pupils and teachers in his state, branding the demand as “absolutely unnecessary” and politically motivated.
​The political clash erupted just days after the federal government announced the successful rescue of 39 pupils and six teachers. The victims had spent 56 days in captivity after being abducted by armed bandits on May 15, 2026, from schools in the Yawota and Ahoro Esienle communities within the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
​Governor Makinde, while formally assuming responsibility for the welfare and rehabilitation of the 45 rescued victims during a broadcast on Monday, July 13, 2026, argued that the unusual nature of the incident warranted independent international oversight.
​”The circumstances surrounding this incident are sufficiently grave and unusual to warrant independent scrutiny beyond our domestic institution,” Makinde stated. “I therefore… 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 had previously noted that the mass abduction occurred less than 24 hours after he publicly declared his intention to run in the 2027 presidential election.
​Responding to the Governor’s broadcast, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, told reporters that Makinde’s request demonstrated a blatant lack of trust in Nigeria’s military and security institutions.
​Onanuga pointed out that the rescue operation was highly complex and came at a heavy cost, claiming the lives of several security personnel from the military and the Western Nigeria Security Network (Amotekun Corps). One mathematics teacher was also killed by the bandits during the 56-day ordeal.
​”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.
​However, the presidential spokesperson questioned the rationale behind insinuating a domestic conspiracy, asking, “Will anyone want to deliberately subject those kids to the trauma they went through for 56 days?”
The federal government went a step further to accuse Governor Makinde of weaponizing the tragedy to fuel his newly declared presidential 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,” Onanuga added.
While the war of words escalates between Ibadan and Abuja, the 45 rescued pupils and teachers are currently undergoing comprehensive medical and psychological rehabilitation under the care of the Oyo State government.
