JUST IN: Senate rejects Makinde’s call for UN investigation into Oyo school abduction

JUST IN: Senate rejects Makinde’s call for UN investigation into Oyo school abduction

The Senate on Tuesday rejected Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde’s call for a United Nations (UN)-backed investigation into the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of the state, insisting that the incident remains a domestic security matter that should be investigated by Nigerian authorities.

The upper legislative chamber reached the decision during plenary while deliberating on the rescue of the abducted pupils and teachers, who spent 56 days in captivity before regaining their freedom in a joint operation involving the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies.

Lawmakers maintained that internationalising the incident could undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty and cast doubt on the capability of the country’s security institutions to investigate and address internal security challenges.

The Senate’s position followed a contribution by Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who criticised Governor Makinde’s proposal to involve United Nations agencies and civil society organisations in probing the circumstances surrounding the abduction.

According to Oshiomhole, inviting international organisations to investigate the incident was unnecessary, particularly after security agencies successfully rescued the victims through what officials have described as an intelligence-led operation.

He argued that the governor’s proposal could diminish public confidence in Nigeria’s security architecture and send the wrong message to the international community about the country’s ability to manage its own security affairs.

Following deliberations, the Senate resolved that Governor Makinde should allow relevant national institutions to complete investigations into the abduction and the events surrounding the victims’ prolonged captivity.

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The lawmakers stressed that the Federal Government, the military, the police and intelligence agencies possess the constitutional responsibility and institutional capacity to investigate the crime and prosecute those responsible.

The Senate also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Armed Forces, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Nigeria Police Force, the DSS, the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and other security organisations for their coordinated efforts that led to the safe rescue of the pupils and teachers.

Lawmakers described the rescue operation as a demonstration of improved synergy among Nigeria’s security agencies and praised the professionalism, courage and sacrifice of officers involved in the mission.

The chamber equally observed a minute’s silence in honour of military personnel and police officers who reportedly lost their lives during the rescue operation. It urged the Federal Government to ensure the prompt payment of insurance benefits, pensions and other entitlements to the families of the fallen security personnel while calling for increased investment in intelligence gathering, logistics, surveillance technology and personnel welfare.

Governor Makinde had, in a statewide broadcast following the release of the victims, called for an independent investigation involving relevant United Nations agencies and international accountability organisations.

The governor argued that an international inquiry would help establish the full circumstances surrounding the abduction, identify any institutional failures and strengthen public confidence in the outcome of the investigation.

His proposal, however, has generated mixed reactions, with supporters describing it as a move towards transparency and accountability, while critics insist that Nigeria’s institutions should be allowed to conclude their investigations without external involvement.

The Presidency has also questioned the governor’s call for a UN-backed investigation, maintaining that the successful rescue operation already demonstrated the effectiveness of Nigerian security agencies and that there is no evidence requiring international intervention.

The victims were abducted on May 15, 2026, when armed criminals attacked three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. They regained their freedom on July 10 after spending nearly two months in captivity.

The incident remains one of Nigeria’s most significant school abduction cases in recent years and has intensified national debate over security, accountability and the appropriate framework for investigating major kidnapping incidents.

JUST IN: Senate rejects Makinde’s call for UN investigation into Oyo school abduction