A chieftain of the All Democratic Alliance (ADA) and the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Leye Igbabo, has questioned the Federal Government’s criticism of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde’s call for an international investigation into the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Ogbomoso, describing the reaction as unjustified.
In an opinion article released on Wednesday, Igbabo argued that Governor Makinde’s appeal for external assistance was aimed at uncovering the truth behind the incident, ensuring justice for the victims and preventing similar attacks in the future.
He recalled that Nigeria was thrown into mourning on May 15, 2026, following the abduction of pupils and teachers from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. According to him, the victims spent 56 days in captivity before 44 of them, comprising 39 pupils and five teachers, were rescued alive on July 10, while two teachers lost their lives.
The ADA spokesman commended the collaborative efforts of the Oyo State Government, the Federal Government, security agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders and residents, noting that the successful rescue demonstrated what could be achieved through cooperation.
However, he expressed concern over the Federal Government’s response to Makinde’s subsequent call for an independent international probe into the circumstances surrounding the abduction.
According to Igbabo, the governor’s request was intended to identify those responsible for planning and executing the attack, expose possible collaborators and strengthen measures to prevent future incidents.
He argued that the Federal Government’s reliance on national sovereignty as justification for rejecting the proposal was inconsistent with its own history of seeking international partnerships in the fight against terrorism, including collaboration with the United States, the United Kingdom and other countries for intelligence sharing, training and security support.
Describing the position as a “double standard,” Igbabo said it was contradictory to welcome foreign assistance in combating terrorism while opposing calls for international scrutiny of a major kidnapping incident.
The ADA spokesman further warned that attacks on those demanding accountability could erode public confidence in government’s commitment to tackling insecurity, stressing that transparency and justice remain essential in addressing the country’s security challenges.
He maintained that Makinde’s call should not be interpreted as an attack on the Federal Government but as a legitimate effort to ensure justice for victims and reassure Nigerians that those responsible would be brought to book.
Igbabo concluded by urging political leaders to prioritise truth, accountability and prevention over partisan disagreements, insisting that uncovering the facts surrounding the Ogbomoso abduction would strengthen public confidence in Nigeria’s security architecture and help prevent future tragedies.
