The Oyo State Government has lifted the dusk-to-dawn curfew earlier imposed on 10 local government areas bordering the Old Oyo National Park following intensified security operations aimed at rescuing pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area.
The decision was announced on Saturday in a statement issued by the State Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade.
According to the government, residents of the affected local government areas are now free to resume their normal daily activities, while security agencies continue coordinated operations to tackle kidnapping and other criminal activities within the area.
“The government is closely monitoring the security situation, and efforts are ongoing to bring the kidnapping episode to an end,” Oyelade said.
The curfew was initially introduced on June 24 as a 48-hour security measure, restricting movement daily between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. across the affected local government areas.
Authorities later extended the restriction by an additional 24 hours to allow security personnel more time to intensify operations against suspected kidnappers and criminal groups operating around the Old Oyo National Park.
The local government areas affected by the curfew include Oriire, Orelope, Irepo, Saki West, Saki East, Atisbo, Itesiwaju, Iseyin, Olorunsogo and Atiba.
The government explained that the temporary restriction on movement was designed to support ongoing military and law enforcement operations targeted at flushing out criminal elements hiding within the forest reserves surrounding the national park.
The security measures followed the coordinated attack carried out on May 15, when armed men invaded three schools located in the Yawota and Ahoro-Esienle communities of Oriire Local Government Area.
During the attack, dozens of pupils and teachers were abducted, sparking widespread concern over the worsening security situation in parts of the South-West.
Since the incident, the Oyo State Government has worked alongside various security agencies to secure the release of the victims and restore confidence among residents.
The rescue operations involve the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Amotekun Corps, as well as other security organisations.
State authorities have consistently maintained that the safe rescue of the abducted pupils and teachers remains a top priority, assuring residents that security operations are still ongoing despite the lifting of the curfew.
The government also reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining law and order across the state while ensuring that residents can safely return to their normal economic and social activities.
Officials expressed optimism that the sustained collaboration among security agencies would help bring an end to the kidnapping menace affecting communities around the Old Oyo National Park.
