The Oyo State Government has announced the imposition of a curfew in 10 local government areas, beginning Wednesday.
The curfew, which will run from 4 pm to 8 am, affects local government areas surrounding the Old Oyo National Park, where the kidnapped victims of the May 15 attack on three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of the state are said to be held hostage.
Chronicle NG reports that a total of 46 people, comprising 39 schoolchildren and seven teachers, are reported to have been abducted in the attack.
The State Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, in a statement on Tuesday, listed the affected LGAs as Oriire (headquarters: Ikoyi-Ile), Orelope (headquarters: Igboho), Irepo (headquarters: Kisi), Saki West (headquarters: Saki), Saki East (headquarters: Ago-Amodu), Atisbo (headquarters: Tede/Ago-Are), and Itesiwaju (headquarters: Otu).
Others are Iseyin (headquarters: Iseyin), Olorunsogo (headquarters: Igbeti), and Atiba (headquarters: Offa-Meta, Oyo).
The statement noted that the curfew would be in force for 48 hours starting Wednesday, “in the first instance”.
“The curfew is part of the state’s ongoing efforts to tackle kidnapping and other security challenges in communities located around the Old Oyo National Park,” the statement added.
The state encouraged people of the affected local government areas to completely comply with the decision, as security authorities ramp up operations to restore peace and safeguard the safety of lives and property throughout the towns.
Scores of teachers and students from Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, Community Grammar School, and L.A. Primary School in Esiele, all in the state’s Oriire Local Government Area, were taken during the attack.
On the day of the raid, a teacher, Joel Adesiyan, was killed, and one of the hostages, mathematics instructor Michael Oyedokun, was beheaded in captivity, according to a viral video posted by the kidnappers.
As part of the rescue efforts, the Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, announced the deployment of special troops, drones, and spy planes to Oyo State, while President Bola Tinubu authorised the deployment of 1,000 forest guards to help state security and hunters.
According to recent reports, military personnel have manned all exit ways into the Old Oyo National Park, which encompasses several local government units.
