Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has called for independent scrutiny of the May 14 abduction of children and teachers from Ahoro-Esinle and Yawota communities in Oriire Local Government Area of the state.
The governor made the call in his statewide broadcast on Monday in Ibadan, shortly after he received 44 children and teachers recently rescued from bandits.
Makinde solicited the help of international human rights and accountability mechanisms, including those within the United Nations system to investigate the matter.
The circumstances of the abduction are sufficiently grave and unusual, according to him.
He said that such scrutiny was intended to reinforce public confidence that the truth would be established.
Makinde added that Nigerians deserve a full and transparent account of what happened, including whether there were institutional failures, negligence, or collusion.
“The reunion of these children and teachers with their families does not mark the end of this painful chapter.
“It marks the beginning of another responsibility: our collective responsibility to establish the truth,” he said.
The governor stressed that the call was not about politics “but about justice for the victims, reassurance for our people, and restoring public confidence that every Nigerian child can go to school without fear”.