Oyo Imposes 16-Hour Curfew in 10 LGAs Over Insecurity
The Oyo State Government has imposed a 16-hour curfew across 10 local government areas bordering the Old Oyo National Park as part of efforts to address worsening insecurity and support ongoing rescue operations for abducted schoolchildren and teachers.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Secretary to the State Government, Musibau Babatunde, said the restriction would take effect on Wednesday and run from 4 p.m. to 8 a.m. daily for an initial period of two days.
The affected local government areas are Oriire, Orelope, Irepo, Saki West, Saki East, Atisbo, Itesiwaju, Iseyin, Olorunsogo, and Atiba.
The state government said the curfew forms part of broader security measures aimed at curbing criminal activities in communities around the national park and facilitating the rescue of 39 schoolchildren and seven teachers abducted in the area on May 15.
Governor Seyi Makinde had earlier disclosed on June 12 that intelligence reports indicated the victims were still being held within the Old Oyo National Park.
According to the governor, the park spans about 2,500 square kilometres across parts of the affected LGAs, making rescue efforts particularly challenging because of the difficult terrain and vast forest coverage.
“The size and difficult terrain of the area pose significant operational challenges for security personnel, requiring patience, strategic coordination, and sustained efforts to ensure a successful rescue operation,” Makinde said.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Police Command has dismissed reports circulating online that the abducted victims were transported to Kaduna State by helicopter.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the command described the claims as false and misleading.
“The Command wishes to categorically state that the content of the said video is entirely false, unverified, misleading, and devoid of any factual basis,” the police said.
However, the police did not confirm whether the abducted pupils and teachers remain inside the national park.
