Nigerians Deserve Full Transparency, Makinde Seeks UN Probe Into Oyo Abduction

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has called on the United Nations and other international human rights and accountability bodies to investigate the abduction of pupils and teachers from Ahoro Esinle School in Oriire Local Government Area, saying Nigerians deserve a full and transparent account of the incident.

Makinde made the call on Monday after the rescued pupils and teachers were handed over to the Oyo State Government by the Federal Government at the State Secretariat in Ibadan.

In a video shared by Oyo Affairs, the governor described the circumstances surrounding the abduction and the eventual rescue as sufficiently serious to warrant independent international scrutiny beyond Nigeria’s domestic institutions.

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

“I therefore, with a full sense of responsibility as the Executive Governor of Oyo State, 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 explained that the request was aimed at strengthening public confidence in the truth and ensuring accountability rather than discrediting Nigerian institutions.

“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 to bear responsibility, regardless of office, influence or affiliation, will be held accountable,” he added.

The governor reminded the Federal Government that responsibility for national security rests with it under the Constitution and said Nigerians deserve answers regarding the circumstances that led to the abduction.

According to him, the public deserves to know whether there were institutional failures, negligence or collusion and what steps would be taken to prevent a recurrence.

Makinde insisted that his call was not politically motivated but driven by the need to secure justice for the victims and restore public confidence in the country’s security system.

The victims were abducted on May 15, 2026, and spent more than 50 days in captivity before security agencies secured their release. They were later treated at the Military Hospital in Ibadan before being formally handed over to the Oyo State Government.