Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has called for an independent investigation by the United Nations and international human rights organisations into the deadly abduction of pupils and teachers from Ahoro-Esinele and Yawata communities in Oriire Local Government Area, declaring that Nigerians deserve the complete truth about the tragedy.
In a statewide broadcast on Monday following the reunion of the abducted victims with their families after weeks in captivity, Makinde said the investigation must establish whether institutional failures, negligence or collusion by individuals or government authorities contributed to the incident.
The governor insisted that the circumstances surrounding the attack have raised questions that cannot be ignored, stressing that only a transparent and impartial international inquiry can restore public confidence and ensure accountability.
“My dear good people of Oyo State, today our hearts are filled with immense relief as the children and teachers abducted from the Ahoro-Esinele and Yawata communities in Oriire Local Government Area have finally been reunited with their families,” Makinde said.
“For every parent who endured weeks of uncertainty, every child who lived through this traumatic experience and every citizen who prayed and hoped for their safe return, this is indeed a moment of thanksgiving.”
Despite celebrating the victims’ freedom, the governor said the state remained in mourning over the lives lost during the crisis, describing the incident as one of the darkest moments in Oyo State’s recent history.
“Yet, even as we rejoice, our relief is tempered by profound sorrow. We mourn the tragic loss of lives in the course of this unfortunate incident,” he said.
Makinde paid tribute to the teachers, security personnel, local hunters and members of the Oyo State Amotekun Corps who died while participating in efforts to rescue the abducted victims, describing them as heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to humanity.
He maintained that the painful episode must not be swept under the carpet, insisting that the families of the victims and all Nigerians deserve a full and transparent account of the events that led to the abduction and the security response that followed.
The governor’s demand for a United Nations-backed investigation is expected to intensify calls for greater accountability over Nigeria’s worsening security crisis, with many observers arguing that only an independent inquiry can determine whether preventable failures or official complicity played any role in the attack.