NEWS
Governor Makinde Seeks UN Intervention Over Oyo School Kidnapping
Governor Makinde Seeks UN Intervention Over Oyo School Kidnapping, has called on the United Nations (UN) and international human rights organisations to investigate the circumstances surrounding the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of the state,
The victims were abducted on May 15 before regaining their freedom after several weeks in captivity. The governor said the nature of the attack and the events surrounding it raised serious concerns that should not be left solely to domestic authorities.
Governor Makinde Seeks UN Intervention
therefore, with a full sense of responsibility as the executive governor of Oyo state, call on the appropriate international human rights organisations and accountability mechanisms, including those within the United Nations system, to closely examine the facts surrounding this abduction and the circumstances of its resolution.
“Such scrutiny is not intended to undermine our institutions; rather, it is intended to reinforce confidence, that truth be established, and that every person found to bear responsibility, regardless of office, influence, or affiliation, would be held accountable.”
The pupils and their teachers were rescued during a joint operation involving personnel of the Nigerian Army and the police, backed by intelligence from the Department of State Services (DSS).
Although national parks fall under the control of the federal government, he said Oyo would immediately tighten oversight of access routes into and out of the park, strengthen intelligence gathering, improve collaboration with local communities and security agencies, and introduce measures to make it more difficult for criminal groups to exploit border communities. Detailed implementation guidelines, he added, would be announced later
Their abduction triggered outrages and an indefinite strike by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Oyo State. Protests by teachers demanding improved security, and widespread public concern over rising insecurity around schools.
The victims were rescued on 10 July after an intensive joint operation involving the military, police, intelligence agencies, Amotekun Corps, hunters and local vigilantes, before being formally handed over to the Oyo State Government on Monday.
