The Oyo State government has declared a 16-hour curfew in 10 local government areas bordering the old Oyo National Park as security agencies intensify efforts to rescue the abducted teachers and pupils who were kidnapped from their school in the Orire local government area on 15 May. Musibau Babatunde, secretary to the state government, announced the curfew in a memo issued on Tuesday, saying it will take effect from Wednesday.
The curfew, which runs from 4 pm to 8 am, is expected to last for two days in the first instance. The affected LGAs are Oriire, Orelope, Irepo, Saki West, Saki East, Atisbo, Itesiwaju, Iseyin, Olorunsogo, and Atiba.
Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo, had on June 12 said the abductees were still within the old Oyo National Park. According to the governor, the park is a vast expanse covering approximately 2,500 square kilometers across parts of the 10 LGAs affected by the curfew. But the Oyo State Government did not immediately provide details of the specific security threats that prompted the curfew.
The declaration comes amid heightened security concerns in Oyo State following the abduction of the schoolchildren and teachers.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Oyo State Police Command also dismissed reports that the abducted victims had been moved to Kaduna state by helicopter. The command, however, did not state whether the abductees are still within the park.