Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Oyo State Government has imposed a sweeping dusk-to-dawn curfew across 10 local government areas surrounding the Old Oyo National Park, a drastic measure aimed at crushing the wave of kidnapping and criminal activities that has terrorised communities in the state's Oke-Ogun axis. The directive, announced on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, comes exactly one month after armed bandits stormed three schools in Oriire Local Government Area, abducting 39 students and seven teachers in a coordinated assault that also claimed the life of a mathematics teacher. The curfew, which takes effect from Wednesday, June 24, will run daily from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. for an initial 48-hour period. Authorities have made it clear that the measure is not symbolic—it is a tactical lockdown designed to choke off escape routes and corner the abductors believed to be holding the victims deep within the sprawling forest reserve.
Governor Seyi Makinde approved the curfew following a recommendation from security agencies, according to a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Musibau Babatunde. The affected local government areas are Oriire (headquarters: Ikoyi-Ile), Orelope (headquarters: Igboho), Irepo (headquarters: Kisi), Saki West (headquarters: Saki), Saki East (headquarters: Ago-Amodu), Atisbo (headquarters: Tede/Ago-Are), Itesiwaju (headquarters: Otu), Iseyin (headquarters: Iseyin), Olorunsogo (headquarters: Igbeti), and Atiba (headquarters: Offa-Meta, Oyo). The state Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, who also confirmed the development, urged residents to comply fully with the restriction, stressing that the measure was necessary to restore peace and ensure the safety of lives and property across the affected communities.
The curfew is the latest and most aggressive response to the abduction that has shaken Oyo State to its core. On May 15, 2026, gunmen launched simultaneous attacks on Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, as well as Community Grammar School and L.A. Primary School in the Esiele community of Oriire Local Government Area. In a chilling display of brutality, the attackers beheaded a mathematics teacher, Michael Oyedokun, before herding 39 pupils and seven teachers into the dense forests around the Old Oyo National Park. The incident triggered widespread outrage, forced the closure of schools across the state, and sparked protests from residents and civil society groups demanding urgent government action.
Security agencies have since launched extensive search-and-rescue operations across the forest reserve, which spans approximately 2,500 square kilometres and stretches across multiple local government areas. The terrain has proven difficult, and the operation has not been without cost. Addressing protesters in Ibadan on June 16, Governor Makinde disclosed that a Nigerian Army lieutenant had been killed during a rescue mission. "We have lost men, even soldiers. I can confirm to you that a lieutenant in the Nigerian Army was killed two days ago," Makinde said, describing the officer's death as a painful sacrifice in the ongoing effort to secure the release of the abducted victims. The governor insisted that Oyo State would not allow the abduction to degenerate into a prolonged national tragedy similar to the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls' kidnapping, vowing that security agencies were deploying every available resource to secure the safe return of the victims.
The Old Oyo National Park, a vast forest reserve that was once a tourist attraction and a haven for wildlife, has increasingly become a hideout for armed groups operating across parts of Oyo State. Residents of communities bordering the park have long complained about banditry and the inability to go to their farms freely. The park's dense vegetation and remote location have made it an ideal sanctuary for criminals, and authorities now believe the abducted victims are being held somewhere within its corridors. The curfew is intended to support ongoing military and police deployments by restricting movement and enabling security forces to intensify surveillance and intelligence-gathering operations.
The decision to impose a 16-hour curfew has been met with a mixture of relief and apprehension among residents. While many acknowledge the severity of the security situation, others fear the economic impact of the restriction, particularly on farmers and traders who rely on daylight hours for their livelihoods. The state government has not indicated whether the curfew will be extended beyond the initial 48 hours, but security analysts suggest the duration will depend on the progress of rescue operations and intelligence reports from the field.
Governor Makinde, who has faced mounting pressure over the handling of the abduction, has repeatedly reaffirmed his administration's commitment to deepening cooperation with federal authorities and security agencies. During a recent meeting with the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the South-West, DIG Adegoke Fayoade, the governor expressed gratitude for the support provided since the abduction, including the deployment of a police helicopter and personnel. He also lauded the recently launched Violent Crimes Unit of the Nigeria Police Force, noting that the unit had already proven effective in the state. "It is a very traumatic situation for us. Today marks exactly one month since the children and their teachers were abducted. We will continue to cooperate with the federal authorities, especially the Nigerian Police, to solve this problem," Makinde said.
The governor also acknowledged the resource constraints facing security agencies, noting that Oyo State is larger than at least 10 African countries and that the areas requiring coverage are vast. "For our people, they just want an end to banditry, insurgency, kidnapping and all of that. Please, convey our apprehension also to the IG. Whatever we can do, we are ready to do," he added. The statement reflects the delicate balancing act facing the state government—maintaining public confidence while managing the operational realities of a complex security emergency.
As the curfew takes effect, security forces have reportedly blocked key escape routes used by the abductors and intensified patrols across the affected areas. The coming days will be critical in determining whether the lockdown achieves its objective of facilitating the rescue of the 46 victims still held captive. For the families of the abducted pupils and teachers, each passing day brings fresh anguish. The curfew, while disruptive, represents a high-stakes gambit by the Oyo State Government—a calculated move to break the deadlock and bring an end to a month-long nightmare that has gripped the state. Whether it succeeds remains to be seen, but for now, the message from Ibadan is clear: the time for talking is over, and the time for action has begun.
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