Makinde Compares Public Reactions to Chibok and Oriire Kidnappings, Renews Push for State Police
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has questioned what he described as the differing standards Nigerians apply when assigning responsibility for major school kidnapping incidents, drawing a comparison between the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls' abduction and the recent kidnapping of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The governor made the remarks shortly after the successful rescue of the abducted pupils and teachers, who had spent nearly two months in captivity before a coordinated security operation secured their freedom. During the rescue effort, Makinde expressed gratitude to the Federal Government and security agencies while using the opportunity to highlight what he believes is a constitutional imbalance in Nigeria's security structure.
Reflecting on public reactions to both incidents, Makinde argued that former President Goodluck Jonathan faced widespread national and international criticism following the abduction of more than 270 schoolgirls from Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State, in April 2014. The incident sparked the global #BringBackOurGirls campaign, with many holding the Federal Government responsible for ensuring the girls' safe return.
According to Makinde, however, the narrative changed when the kidnapping occurred in Oyo State.
"When Chibok happened, it was the fault of President Jonathan. People went all over the world asking Jonathan to bring back the children. But when this happened, it suddenly became the irresponsibility of the state governor and the state government," the governor said.
Makinde maintained that while governors are often the first elected officials citizens look to during security emergencies, the Nigerian Constitution does not place the military, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), or other federal security agencies under the operational control of state governments. He argued that this constitutional arrangement limits the ability of governors to independently direct security operations, despite being held accountable by the public whenever insecurity occurs within their states.
The governor nevertheless commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies for their collaboration and commitment, which ultimately led to the successful rescue of the kidnapped pupils and teachers from Oriire Local Government Area. He described the operation as a demonstration of what can be achieved through effective cooperation between federal and state authorities.
The Oriire school abduction had generated widespread concern across Oyo State and Nigeria, with parents, education stakeholders and residents anxiously awaiting the safe return of the victims. Following intelligence-led operations involving multiple security agencies, the victims were rescued and later handed over to the Oyo State Government for rehabilitation and continued medical care. The state government has also pledged to provide psychological support and other necessary assistance to help the rescued pupils and teachers recover from their ordeal.
Makinde also renewed his long-standing call for constitutional reforms to strengthen Nigeria's security architecture, particularly through the establishment of state police. He argued that creating state-controlled police formations would empower governors with greater operational authority to respond swiftly to emerging security threats and improve the protection of lives and property within their jurisdictions.
The debate over state police has remained one of Nigeria's most discussed constitutional reform issues, with many state governors and policy experts advocating decentralised policing as a way to improve intelligence gathering, rapid response and community-based security, while others continue to express concerns about possible political abuse.
For Makinde, however, the successful rescue operation has once again reinforced the need for a security structure that aligns responsibility with constitutional authority, insisting that governors should be equipped with the legal powers necessary to effectively protect the citizens they are elected to serve.
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