Fresh support has emerged for Governor Seyi Makinde’s call for an independent international investigation into the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oyo State, with the State House of Assembly insisting the move would strengthen Nigeria’s security efforts.
The backing comes after the Senate rejected the proposal, saying the incident should be investigated by Nigerian authorities.
In a statement issued by the Office of the Speaker, Adebo Ogundoyin, the Assembly welcomed the rescue of the victims but said the circumstances surrounding the abduction warranted an independent review.
“Mass abduction of schoolchildren has become a disturbing pattern in Nigeria… it is only appropriate to invite the relevant agency of the United Nations to investigate the unusual circumstances surrounding the Oyo State case and make recommendations that will help prevent a recurrence. Enough is enough”, the statement said.
The lawmakers stressed that the governor’s request was not a criticism of the Federal Government or security agencies but an effort to improve transparency and prevent similar attacks.
“The call for an independent international investigation is neither an indictment of the Federal Government nor a criticism of our gallant security agencies… Commending the efforts of our security agencies and seeking a transparent review of the incident are not mutually exclusive”, the Assembly added.
The Assembly also argued that terrorism and attacks on schools now have cross-border implications, making international cooperation increasingly necessary.
It maintained that independent investigations have helped strengthen security systems in other democracies and said Makinde’s proposal is aimed at identifying security gaps and preventing future school abductions, not assigning blame.
