The Oyo state government has declared a 16-hour curfew in 10 local government areas bordering the old Oyo National Park.
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 4pm to 8am, 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.
The development forms part of security measures by the state government to curb rising insecurity in the affected areas and fast-track the rescue of the 39 schoolchildren and seven teachers abducted in the area on May 15.
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 kilometres across parts of the 10 LGAs affected by the curfew.
“The size and difficult terrain of the area pose significant operational challenges for security personnel, requiring patience, strategic coordination, and sustained efforts to ensure a successful rescue operation,” the governor said.
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 wishes to categorically state that the content of the said video is entirely false, unverified, misleading, and devoid of any factual basis,” the police said.
The command, however, did not state whether the abductees are still within the park.
