The Presidency has strongly criticised Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, over his call for an international investigation into the abduction of pupils and teachers from Oriire Local Government Area, describing his position as unfounded and dismissing suggestions of political motives behind the incident.
Governor Makinde had, after receiving the rescued victims in Ibadan, urged the United Nations (UN) and international human rights organisations to conduct an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the May 15 abduction and the subsequent rescue operation.
He said Nigerians deserved a transparent account of what transpired and called for accountability wherever security lapses were established.
Reacting to the governor’s position, Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga dismissed the proposal, describing Makinde’s comments as a “crazy theory” and questioning the rationale behind linking the incident to political considerations.
According to Onanuga, the Federal Government had no reason to orchestrate or benefit from the abduction of innocent schoolchildren and teachers.
“What is our business with him? That is his opinion. The good thing is that those kids are out and the teachers are out, so whatever crazy theory he is reading into it, that is his own palava,” Onanuga was quoted as saying.
The exchange follows remarks by Makinde suggesting that the abduction occurred less than 24 hours after he declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election, a sequence of events he said raised questions deserving independent scrutiny.
However, the governor stopped short of directly accusing the Federal Government or any individual of involvement in the attack.
The victims—44 pupils and teachers abducted from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15—were rescued after spending 56 days in captivity.
The Presidency said the operation was carried out through coordinated efforts by the Nigerian military, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies. Eight suspected kidnappers were arrested, while several others were reportedly neutralised during the operation.
Following the rescue, President Bola Tinubu commended the security agencies for securing the victims’ freedom and directed relevant authorities to work with the Oyo State Government to provide medical care, psychosocial support and rehabilitation for the rescued pupils and teachers.
The disagreement between the Presidency and the Oyo State governor has added a political dimension to the aftermath of one of the state’s most high-profile school abduction cases, even as attention remains focused on the rehabilitation of the victims and efforts to improve security around schools.
