Muhammed Abubakar, Reporting
ABUJA — The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has strongly condemned what it describes as the Presidency’s “desperate attempt” to discredit Governor Seyi Makinde’s call for an independent international investigation into the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the rights group accused the Federal Government of prioritising propaganda over transparency.
Rather than vilifying Governor Makinde, HURIWA argued that the government should embrace scrutiny by inviting the United Nations, the FBI, and other internationally respected bodies to examine the harrowing 56-day captivity and the circumstances surrounding the rescue operation.
Questions Over Rescue Operation
HURIWA challenged the Federal Government’s hostility towards international scrutiny, posing a series of pointed questions regarding the official narrative. The group questioned the fate of the “terrorists reportedly neutralised” during the operation, the identities of those said to have been arrested, and the circumstances surrounding the reported deployment of a newly trained Army officer to lead such a dangerous mission.
“Democracy thrives on accountability, not official propaganda,” the association stated.
The group also raised concerns about the welfare of the victims, criticising officials for parading traumatised children and teachers before television cameras for public interviews without allowing for comprehensive psychological evaluation and trauma counselling.
Legitimate Questions, Not Politics
HURIWA dismissed attempts to portray the demand for transparency as an attack on Nigeria’s sovereignty, insisting that these are “legitimate questions in any democratic society.”
The association asserted that the issues raised by Governor Makinde touch directly on national security and the constitutional duty of government to protect lives. It rejected the notion that calls for international probes constitute a violation of sovereignty, pointing out that Nigeria has previously welcomed international investigations in other instances involving human rights.
Call for Full Transparency
HURIWA urged the Tinubu administration to demonstrate confidence in its own narrative by formally inviting the UN, the FBI, and other credible institutions to independently establish the facts.
“The children deserve the truth. Their families deserve the truth. Nigeria deserves the truth,” the group concluded.
