Special Adviser to the President on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga,
has lambasted Governor of Oyo state,
Seyi Makinde, over his call for a United Nations (UN)-backed investigation into the abduction of pupils and teachers.
Makinde had, on Monday, appealed to the UN and other international accountability bodies to investigate the circumstances surrounding the Ogbomoso abduction and rescue of the victims, saying Nigerians deserve a full account of what transpired.
“The circumstances surrounding this incident are sufficiently grave and unusual to warrant independent scrutiny beyond our domestic institution,” the governor said.
On May 15, armed men attacked three schools in the Yawota and Ahoro Esienle communities of Oriire LGA, abducting 39 pupils and six teachers.
The victims were rescued after spending 56 days in captivity following a month-long military operation involving multiple security agencies.
Onanuga said Makinde’s call was unnecessary because the military and other security agencies had explained the circumstances surrounding the operation.
“The governor has just expressed his opinion that the UN should probe this incident. Our doors are open. Let the UN come if he thinks there is more to it than what our military has explained,” said Onanuga.
He questioned the basis for the governor’s demand, saying there was no reason for security agencies to deliberately allow children to remain in captivity.
“Look at those kids. Some of them are just about four or six years old. Will anyone want to deliberately subject them to the trauma they went through for 56 days?” he said.
Onanuga noted that the operation came at a cost, with members of the military and the Oyo State Security Network Agency, codenamed Amotekun, losing their lives during the mission.
“It is just unfortunate that Mr Makinde, maybe because of politics, because he is a presidential candidate now, doesn’t have any trust in our own institutions and is now calling on an external body to come and investigate.
“The man is just playing politics, and it is the politics of the bizarre. He wants to weaponise anything available, including dredging up a strange conspiracy theory,” he added.
