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Just days after the rescue of the 44 abducted pupils and teachers of Community High School in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria, Governor of the State, Seyi Makinde, called on the United Nations and international human rights organisations to conduct an independent investigation into the incident.
Bandits had attacked the community on May 15, 2026, abducting 46 people, including 39 students and seven teachers. The State governor, Makinde, described the incident as “sufficiently grave and unusual” and urged the UN to closely examine the circumstances surrounding both the abduction and the operation that secured the victims’ release.
In this report, ROUNDCHECK seeks to understand the UN’s powers to intervene in local issues affecting member states, including Nigeria.
The United Nations – Its Duties and Nigeria’s Membership
The United Nations (UN) is an international intergovernmental organisation established in 1945 to maintain international peace and security, foster friendly relations among nations, and promote human rights and social progress.
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Founded in the aftermath of the Second World War, the UN addresses a broad range of global issues in accordance with the powers and responsibilities set out in its Charter, which serves as its founding treaty.
The UN is headquartered in New York, United States, and has 193 member States.
The organisation carries out five core functions: maintaining international peace and security; protecting human rights; delivering humanitarian assistance; promoting sustainable development and climate action; and upholding international law.
The organisation’s six principal organs are the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the Trusteeship Council, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and the UN Secretariat.
Nigeria became a member of the United Nations on 7 October 1960, six days after gaining independence.
Since then, the country has received support from the UN in various areas, including peacebuilding, humanitarian assistance, sustainable development, public health, and education.
UN Intervention in Member States
The UN Charter is an instrument of international law and the funding document of the UN. The mission and work of the UN are guided by the purposes and principles contained in its Charter.
ROUNDCHECK examined the UN Charter to determine if the organisation can respond to internal issues affecting member states.
Based on the UN Charter, the United Nations generally cannot interfere in the internal affairs of sovereign states; however, there are exceptions.
Chapter 1, Article 2 of the UN Charter states that “nothing contained in the present Charter shall authorize the United Nations to intervene in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any state or shall require the Members to submit such matters to settlement under the present Charter; but this principle shall not prejudice the application of enforcement measures under Chapter VII.
This part of the Charter reveals that the UN cannot generally decide to intervene in domestic issues of member states. It, however, noted that it can override the enforcement measures through Chapter VII of the Charter.
Chapter VII empowers the UN Security Council to take binding action, including sanctions and, in exceptional cases, military force, when it determines that a situation threatens international peace and security.
These powers are an exception to the general principle in Article 2(7) that the UN should not intervene in matters within the domestic jurisdiction of states.
Also, Section VI, Article 35 allows member states to bring a dispute or situation that could endanger international peace and security to the attention of the Security Council or the General Assembly. However, this does not guarantee intervention.
ROUNDCHECK analysed the UN Responsibility to Protect (R2P) resolution, adopted during the UN World Summit in 2005.
In paragraphs 138 and 139 of this World Summit Outcome Document, Heads of State and Government affirmed their responsibility to protect their own populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity and accepted a collective responsibility to encourage and help each other uphold this commitment.
They also declared their preparedness to take timely and decisive action, in accordance with the United Nations Charter and in cooperation with relevant regional organisations, when national authorities fail to protect their populations.
ROUNDCHECK finds that the UN can take action in a member state if the UN Security Council determines that a situation constitutes a threat to international peace and security under Chapter VII of the Charter.
But in this case of the Oyo State kidnapping, it is not a case of clear threat to international peace and security – with emphasis on INTERNATIONAL.
Can UN Interfere In The Oyo State Kidnapping Incident?
As a member of the United Nations, Nigeria operates within the framework of the UN Charter.
ROUNDCHECK discovered that the UN, with the consent and cooperation of the Nigerian government, has provided support in areas such as humanitarian assistance, healthcare, education, governance, and sustainable development.
On 21 July 2026, the UN reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s efforts to build stronger food systems, enhance climate resilience, and accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Also, the organisation has been involved in providing humanitarian support to victims of conflict in north-eastern Nigeria.
The United Nations has also engaged with Nigeria through its human rights mechanisms.
At the invitation of the Nigerian government, the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Prof. Nazila Ghanea, visited Nigeria from 8 to 19 June 2026.
Following her visit, she identified insecurity, violence, and a pervasive culture of impunity, rather than formal religious discrimination, as the principal obstacles to the enjoyment of freedom of religion or belief across the country.
In the case of Oyo State kidnapping, it is viewed as an internal affair. Even though the UN is yet to speak on it, following Governor Makinde’s call, the UN is limited in its jurisdiction to interfere.
Against this backdrop, calls for the UN to intervene in the Oyo State kidnapping should align with these questions:
(1) Does the situation constitute a threat to international peace and security?
(2) Is there evidence of genocide, crimes against humanity, or other serious violations of international law that would warrant UN action?
(3) Has the Federal Government of Nigeria requested UN assistance or cooperation?.
These are among the factors that determine whether and how the United Nations may become involved.
Conclusively, ROUNDCHECK understands that the UN can intervene in issues of member states; however, the call for Makinde to investigate the OYO state kidnap is not enough to draw the UN intervention into an internal security matter.
