Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has drawn a sharp comparison between the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction and the recent kidnapping of schoolchildren in his state, accusing Nigerians of applying a double standard when assigning blame for insecurity.
Makinde made the remarks on Friday in Bauchi State, where he met with Governor Bala Mohammed and leaders of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) behind closed doors. Speaking to journalists afterward, the governor recalled how the nation reacted when terrorists seized more than 200 girls from a school in Chibok, Borno State, in 2014.
“When Chibok happened, it was the fault of President Jonathan. They went all over the world asking Jonathan to bring back the children.”
He then contrasted that response with the reaction to the abduction of pupils and teachers from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State in May.
“But when the Oyo State abduction happened, they said it was the irresponsibility of the state governor and the state government.”
When Chibok happened, it was the fault of President Jonathan. They went all over the world asking Jonathan to bring back the children. But when the Oyo State abduction happened, they said it was the irresponsibility of the state governor and the state government.
– Governor Seyi… https://t.co/qSpf8WNn0e pic.twitter.com/esebQmiEzi
— Nigerian Affairs Journal (@NigAffairs) July 10, 2026
I declared to run for the presidency at 4 pm, and by 9 am the following morning, children were abducted in Oyo State.
– Governor Seyi Makinde spoke this afternoon during a meeting with Governor Bala Mohammed and APM leaders in Bauchi State pic.twitter.com/6usoG6cPZF
— Nigerian Affairs Journal (@NigAffairs) July 10, 2026
SEE ALSO: BREAKING: Security Forces Rescue Oyo Pupils, Teachers After 56 Days in Kidnappers’ Den
Consequently, Makinde argued that this inconsistency exposes a deeper problem with Nigeria’s security structure. Since governors are labelled chief security officers of their states yet cannot direct the police, the Department of State Services, or the military without approval from federal authorities, he insisted that accountability should not fall on them alone.
“So we need to look at our architecture and be sure that where you give responsibility, you also give authority to deal with those responsibilities.”
Furthermore, the governor stressed that he cannot personally instruct the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, as such directives must first pass through the Inspector-General of Police. He cited this constraint as evidence for why state policing, rather than the current centralized model, offers a more workable path forward.
Meanwhile, the Oyo abduction saga reached a resolution this week after 57 days. Security agencies rescued all the affected pupils and teachers in a coordinated operation, and the Presidency confirmed the development on Friday. Reacting to the news, Makinde thanked security commanders, the police, the DSS, the military, and President Bola Tinubu for pushing the rescue effort through.
“It’s such a big relief for all of us and for those that are waiting, you know, for this past 57 days. I’m just right now overjoyed, and I cannot really say much. I will talk much later when I can put my thoughts together.”
In addition to security matters, Makinde used the Bauchi visit to touch on his 2027 presidential ambition under the APM. When asked about a running mate, he declined to name one, noting that consultations were still ongoing.
“Let us wait until the names are uploaded to the INEC portal. It is part of the consultation. We still have enough time, and the consultations will continue.”
For his part, Governor Bala Mohammed described Makinde’s visit as part of a longstanding tradition of peer review among governors, one that strengthens governance through the exchange of ideas. He also noted that the May 15 abduction marked the first major security breach in Oyo State in years, adding that the incident occurred barely 24 hours after Makinde declared his presidential bid.
Ultimately, Makinde’s comments reignite an ongoing national conversation about where responsibility for insecurity truly lies, and whether Nigeria’s governors can be fairly judged for failures in a system that denies them operational control over security forces.
Keyphrase: Makinde Chibok Oyo abduction.
Leave a Reply