Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has declared a 16-hour curfew in 10 local government areas of the state following the abduction of dozens of students and teachers in communities around the Old Oyo National Park, Peak Newspaper reports.
The curfew, which takes effect from Wednesday, (Today) June 24, 2026, will run daily from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. and will remain in force for an initial 48 hours, according to a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Musibau Babatunde.
The affected local government areas are Oriire, Orelope, Irepo, Saki West, Saki East, Atisbo, Itesiwaju, Iseyin, Olorunsogo and Atiba — all of them surrounding or bordering the Old Oyo National Park, an area authorities believe is being used as a hideout by the kidnappers.
The move comes amid intensified efforts to rescue the abducted victims, after 39 students and seven teachers were kidnapped last month from communities in Oriire Local Government Area. The state government says the curfew is part of emergency security measures aimed at restricting movement around the park and supporting ongoing rescue operations.
The abduction has triggered widespread anxiety across Oyo State, with labour unions, parents and school communities demanding urgent action from the authorities. In recent weeks, the crisis has also sparked protests and school shutdowns as families continue to wait for the safe return of the victims.
Governor Makinde’s latest order underscores the seriousness of the security situation in the state’s northern axis, where the Old Oyo National Park has increasingly become a flashpoint in the search for the abducted pupils and teachers.
