Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde on Tuesday declared a 16-hour curfew in 10 Local Government Areas, LGAs, of the State in an impending military operation against bandits hiding inside Old Oyo National Park.
Secretary to the State Government, Prof Musibau Babatunde said the curfew takes effect from Wednesday.
However, no reason was given for the curfew that is expected to be observed between 4.00 p.m. and 8.00 a.m. and last for two days in the first instance in the statement.
The affected LGAs are Oriire LGA headquarters, Ikoyi-Ile; Orelope LGA headquarters, Igboho; Irepo LGA headquarters, Kisi; Saki West LGA headquarters, Saki, and Saki East LGA headquarters, Ago-Amodu.
Others are Atisbo LGA headquarters, Tede /Ago-Are; Itesiwaju LGA headquarters, Otu; Iseyin LGA headquarters, Iseyin; Olorunsogo LGA headquarters, Igbeti, and Atiba LGA headquarters, Offa-Meta, in Oyo town.
However, the affected LGAs border the Old Oyo National Park where terrorists reportedly used to abduct over 40 students and teachers on May 15.
The schoolchildren and their teachers who were abducted in Oriire Local Government Area are still missing
The Oyo State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, has declared indefinite strike over the abduction of the students.
NUT directed all public primary and secondary school teachers in Oyo State to embark on an indefinite strike beginning from June 1.
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But Oyo government and security operatives have continued to assure that everything is being done to rescue the abducted students and their teachers.
However, some parents and teachers said the prolonged closure of public schools had left many children idle, exposed to negative influences and disrupted their academic activities.
Speaking to a group of protesters in Ibadan on June 16, 2026, Makinde restated his commitment to rescue all schoolchildren and teachers being held captive.
The governor, who expressed readiness to exhaust every option to guarantee the safe rescue of the kidnapped children and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area, stressed that avoiding further loss of life remains a priority.
He, however, said that tougher decisions would not be ruled out.
“If you ask me, ‘Can I sacrifice myself for those children to come out?’ I will do it.
“But if we get to the point that certain people have to be sacrificed, including myself, we will do it,” the governor said.
Makinde, who did not disclose details of the ongoing operation for security reasons, assured that the current security architecture in the state was capable of securing the release of the abductees.
He appreciated the protesters for their efforts and the peaceful manner in which they conducted themselves.
PM NEWS
