By BONIFACE AKARAH

The Lagos State chapter of the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement has criticised Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde over his reported call for an independent United Nations investigation into the abduction and rescue of pupils and teachers of Community Grammar School in Oriire Local Government Area, describing the move as an attempt to undermine Nigeria’s security institutions.

According to a statement signed by the Lagos State Coordinator of the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement, Amosu Kazeem Oluwatomi, the group described Governor Makinde’s reported request for a UN investigation as “unpatriotic and highly opportunistic.” It argued that inviting international scrutiny of what it called a domestic security operation amounted to “an outright insult” to the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force. The organisation also commended President Bola Tinubu for what it described as his “quiet, dogged, and unyielding posture” throughout the 56-day ordeal.

“While the entire nation is in a state of profound relief following the safe return of the 39 pupils and five teachers… Governor Makinde has chosen to use the trauma of innocent children to play low-level politics,” the movement alleged.

The group said security personnel involved in the operation displayed courage in securing the release of the abductees, alleging that some operatives paid the supreme price while dismantling the kidnappers’ network.

“For a sitting Chief Security Officer of a state to look away from his own constitutional responsibilities and demand a foreign intervention is a clear admission of sub-national failure,” the statement said, urging the governor to work with federal security agencies rather than seeking international intervention.

The organisation questioned what it described as the Oyo State Government’s handling of security before the abduction, asking what had been done with security votes and increased federal allocations to protect communities bordering the Old Oyo National Park.

“What did his administration do with the massive security votes and exponentially increased federal allocations entering Oyo State to secure communities bordering the Old Oyo National Park before this tragedy occurred?” the group asked, while also questioning why it allegedly took 56 days before actionable intelligence became available for the rescue operation.

Commending President Tinubu’s handling of the crisis, the movement alleged that the Federal Government resisted negotiating with the kidnappers, dismantled the gang’s logistics network and arrested eight suspected members of the syndicate now in the custody of the Department of State Services.

“Rather than engaging in media showmanship or entering into compromise arrangements with bandits, the Tinubu administration stood firm, neutralized key terror informants, arrested eight core members of the syndicate… and insisted that the rule of law take its course,” the statement added.

The movement urged Governor Makinde to align with domestic institutions during periods of national security challenges instead of, in its view, taking issues to international bodies for political advantage.

“True leadership aligns with domestic institutions in times of national trial; it does not seek to delegitimize them on the global stage,” the organisation maintained.

It also called on the Oyo State Government to strengthen security around schools in line with the President’s directive and urged the rescued pupils, teachers and their families to remain steadfast as they undergo medical and psychosocial rehabilitation.

Governor Makinde’s reported call for a United Nations investigation and the claims contained in the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement’s statement had not been independently verified by News Express at the time of filing this report.

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