Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde urges the United Nations to investigate the Ahoro Esinle School kidnapping after rescued pupils and teachers return home

Formerly anxious families embraced loved ones as Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde welcomed rescued pupils and teachers from Ahoro Esinle School to the Oyo State Secretariat in Ibadan on Monday, using the emotional homecoming to call on the United Nations and other international accountability bodies to investigate the circumstances surrounding the school abduction that kept the victims in captivity for 56 days.

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The Makinde UN Probe appeal came shortly after the Federal Government formally handed over the rescued pupils and teachers to the Oyo State Government.

The victims had earlier undergone medical treatment and psychosocial support at the Military Hospital in Ibadan following their rescue by security agencies.

Speaking in a video shared by Oyo Affairs, Makinde described the kidnapping and the events leading to the victims’ freedom as matters that warranted independent international examination alongside Nigeria’s domestic processes.

“The circumstances surrounding this incident are sufficiently grave and unusual to warrant independent scrutiny beyond our domestic institution.

“I therefore, with a full sense of responsibility as the Executive Governor of Oyo State, 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,” the governor said.

Makinde emphasised that the request was not intended to cast doubt on Nigerian institutions but to reinforce public trust in the pursuit of justice.

“Such scrutiny is not intended to undermine our institution. Rather, it is intended to reinforce public confidence that the truth will be established and that every person found to bear responsibility, regardless of office, influence or affiliation, will be held accountable,” he added.

The governor also reminded the Federal Government that responsibility for safeguarding the country rests primarily with federal authorities under Nigeria’s Constitution.

“Under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the primary responsibility for national security rests with the Federal Government and the security agencies under its command,” Makinde said.

Calling for a comprehensive account of the incident, the governor said Nigerians deserved answers on how the abduction occurred, whether any institutional failures contributed to it and what reforms would prevent a recurrence.

“The Nigerian people, therefore, deserve a full and transparent 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 an ordeal again,” he said.

Rejecting suggestions that his position was politically motivated, Makinde insisted that the focus should remain on the welfare of the victims and strengthening public confidence in school safety.

“This is not about politics. It is about justice for the victims, reassurance for our people, and restoring public confidence that every Nigerian child can go to school without fear,” he stated.

The rescued pupils and teachers were abducted by gunmen on May 15, 2026, while at Ahoro Esinle School in Oriire Local Government Area, an attack that reignited nationwide concerns over the growing vulnerability of educational institutions to criminal violence.

The Federal Government announced the victims’ rescue on Friday after security agencies secured their release. Makinde visited them at the Military Hospital in Ibadan on Saturday before Monday’s formal handover, an emotional moment that brought relief to families who had spent nearly two months hoping for their safe return.

The kidnapping was one of the latest in a series of attacks on schools across Nigeria, despite years of government efforts to strengthen the Safe Schools Initiative and improve security around educational facilities.

Similar incidents in states including Kaduna, Niger, Zamfara and Katsina have prompted repeated calls for stronger intelligence gathering, better community policing and increased protection for schools in vulnerable rural communities.

Makinde’s appeal for international involvement introduces a new dimension to the national conversation on school security.

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While investigations into major security incidents are typically handled by Nigerian authorities, the governor argued that an independent review could provide crucial transparency, establish public confidence in the findings and help ensure accountability for any lapses that may have contributed to the prolonged ordeal.