Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, has faulted Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde’s call for a United Nations investigation into the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area, insisting that the global body does not intervene in the internal affairs of sovereign member states.
In a statement issued by his media office in New York, Ibrahim said matters relating to internal security fall within the responsibility of national and sub-national governments, stressing that the United Nations is not empowered to investigate domestic security incidents such as the recent abduction in Oyo State.
He urged Governor Makinde to channel his efforts towards strengthening security measures and supporting victims of the attack rather than seeking intervention from the international organisation.
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While congratulating Nigerians and security agencies on the successful rescue of the abducted pupils and teachers, Ibrahim called on the Oyo State governor to publicly apologise to the victims and their teachers.
According to him, such a gesture would reflect empathy, accountability and responsible leadership in the aftermath of the incident.
The former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Affairs also appealed to the Oyo State Government to provide adequate support to the families of any teachers who may have lost their lives as a result of the abduction.
Ibrahim further emphasised that security should be treated as a collective responsibility, urging state governments across the country to invest more in preventive security measures, strengthen collaboration with security agencies and prioritise the safety of schools.
The Chairman of the United Nations Fifth Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Matters said ensuring secure learning environments for children must remain a key priority for governments at all levels.
On Monday, Governor Makinde called on the United Nations and international human rights organisations to investigate the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15.
Makinde made the appeal while speaking after receiving the rescued pupils and their teachers at the Governor’s Office in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The governor said the circumstances surrounding the incident were serious enough to warrant an independent investigation beyond Nigeria’s domestic institutions.
According to him, an international probe would not be aimed at discrediting local institutions but rather at strengthening public confidence, establishing the full facts of the case and ensuring accountability.
