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, insisting that Nigerians deserve a transparent account of the incident and its resolution.
The governor made the appeal on Monday after the rescued victims were handed over to the Oyo State Government by the Federal Government and received at the Oyo State Secretariat in Ibadan.
In a statement delivered after the victims’ arrival, Makinde described the circumstances surrounding the abduction as serious enough to warrant independent international scrutiny beyond Nigeria’s domestic institutions.
According to him, the request for an international investigation is not intended to undermine Nigerian institutions but to strengthen public confidence by ensuring that the truth is established and that anyone found responsible, regardless of status or affiliation, is held accountable.
Makinde stressed that under Nigeria’s Constitution, the responsibility for national security rests with the Federal Government and the security agencies under its control.
He said Nigerians deserve a comprehensive explanation of how the abduction occurred, whether there were institutional failures, negligence or collusion, and what measures would be put in place to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The governor maintained that his call was driven by the need for justice rather than political considerations, adding that the welfare of the victims and the safety of schoolchildren across the country should remain the priority.
The rescued pupils and teachers were formally transferred to the Oyo State Government on Monday after spending more than 50 days in captivity.
They were abducted by armed men from Ahoro Esinle School in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15, 2026, before being rescued by security agencies. Their rescue was announced by the Federal Government last Friday.
Following their release, the victims were admitted to the Military Hospital in Ibadan, where they received medical care and psychosocial support. Governor Makinde visited them at the hospital on Saturday before their official handover on Monday.
Parents of the rescued pupils and teachers have also expressed relief and joy over the safe return of their loved ones after weeks of uncertainty.
