Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has faulted Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde over his call for a United Nations-backed investigation into the abduction and subsequent rescue of pupils and teachers kidnapped in Oriire Local Government Area of the state.
Makinde had urged the United Nations and other international accountability bodies to investigate the circumstances surrounding the kidnapping and rescue operation, insisting that Nigerians deserve a full account of what transpired.
According to the governor, the incident was serious enough to require independent scrutiny beyond Nigeria’s domestic institutions.
The abduction occurred on May 15 when armed men attacked three schools in the Yawota and Ahoro Esienle communities of Oriire LGA, whisking away 39 pupils and six teachers. The victims regained their freedom after spending 56 days in captivity following a coordinated military operation involving multiple security agencies.
Reacting in an interview with The Punch, Onanuga dismissed Makinde’s demand, arguing that the military and other security agencies had already provided adequate explanations about the rescue mission.
He maintained that Nigeria remained open to any international inquiry if necessary but questioned the rationale behind the governor’s request.
Onanuga also rejected any suggestion that security agencies deliberately delayed the rescue, stressing that no responsible institution would intentionally allow young children to remain in captivity for nearly two months.
He further noted that the rescue mission came at a heavy cost, revealing that personnel of the Nigerian military and the Oyo State Security Network Agency, codenamed Amotekun, lost their lives during the operation.
The presidential aide accused Makinde, who recently declared his presidential ambition on the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), of politicising the security incident.
According to him, the governor’s call for a UN investigation reflects a lack of confidence in Nigeria’s security institutions and is driven by political considerations.
Onanuga described the demand as both unwarranted and unnecessary, alleging that Makinde was attempting to weaponise the incident for political gain while promoting what he called a “strange conspiracy theory.”