Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has called on the United Nations (UN) and other international human rights and accountability bodies to investigate the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area, saying Nigerians deserve a full and transparent account of the events surrounding the incident and the eventual rescue of the victims.
In a statewide broadcast after the rescued pupils and teachers were reunited with their families following 56 days in captivity, Makinde said the circumstances surrounding the mass abduction and its resolution were too serious to be handled solely by domestic institutions.
“The circumstances surrounding this abduction are sufficiently grave and unusual to warrant independent scrutiny beyond our domestic institutions,” the governor said.
“Therefore, with a full sense of responsibility as the Executive Governor of Oyo State, I 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 his appeal was not meant to discredit Nigeria’s institutions but to strengthen public confidence by ensuring the truth is uncovered and anyone found responsible is held accountable.
“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 responsible, regardless of office, influence or affiliation, will be held accountable,” he said.
The governor also noted that under Nigeria’s Constitution, responsibility for national security rests with the Federal Government and the security agencies under its control.
“The Nigerian people therefore deserve a full, transparent and credible account of what happened, who was responsible, whether there were institutional failures, negligence or collusion at any level, and what measures must now be taken to ensure that no community is ever subjected to such a tragedy again,” he added.
