Twenty-seven days after the daring and tragic abduction of students and teachers in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Governor Seyi Makinde has disclosed that the victims are still being held within the vast axis of the Old Oyo National Park.
​The Governor gave this update as joint security forces ramp up intelligence-led operations to secure the safe release of the captives.
​The crisis began when heavily armed bandits riding motorcycles launched coordinated attacks on local schools, including the Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, as well as Community High School and L.A. Basic School in Ahoro-Esinle.
​Speaking on the status of the rescue operations, Governor Makinde affirmed that state surveillance and security mechanisms indicate the kidnappers have remained entrenched within the dense perimeter of the Old Oyo National Park.
​”Security agencies have intensified their efforts and are narrowing down on the wider Old Oyo National Park axis where the victims are believed to be held,” the Governor indicated, emphasizing that the state is deploying every necessary resource to ensure a tactical and safe extraction.
​The Oyo State Government has already set up an operational command centre at the state police headquarters to synchronize field intelligence. Additionally, a specialized state surveillance aircraft is being integrated into the search loop to provide vital aerial reconnaissance over the expansive forest reserve.
​The cross-border nature of the raid, which authorities believe was carried out by bandits operating across regional boundaries, has prompted the Oyo State Government to call for a unified front.
​Governor Makinde has engaged with various stakeholders, including the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the National Union of Teachers (NUT), urging host communities to remain vigilant and cooperate with law enforcement.
​As the agonizing wait enters its fourth week, the government has re-assured anxious parents and the public that it remains relentlessly committed to bringing the pupils and their teachers back home safely.
