- Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has revealed that the incredibly dense terrain and massive landmass of the Old Oyo National Park are the primary obstacles slowing down the tactical rescue of the pupils and teachers kidnapped by terrorists nearly a month ago.
- According to high-level intelligence reports, the hostages, who were seized during a violent raid on multiple schools in Oriire Local Government Area, are still being held captive within the park’s expansive boundaries.
- Despite the prolonged 27-day captivity causing severe anxiety within host communities, state authorities insist that joint security forces are actively tracking every actionable lead to secure a safe release without casualties.
The complex internal security challenges plaguing parts of the South-West took center stage as Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, broke his silence on why the rescue operations for the abducted schoolchildren and teachers have dragged on.
Writing in his official weekly newsletter, Eko Hot Blog reports that the governor explained that the hostile, dense geographical layout and sheer scale of the Old Oyo National Park have thrown up serious logistical hurdles for frontline security operatives.
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According to the latest intelligence briefs from intelligence agencies, the victims are still being held deep within the forest axis, which spans an estimated 2,500 square kilometers across ten different local government areas in the state.
The security crisis began on May 15, 2026, when heavily armed terrorists launched a coordinated assault on three academic institutions, the Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, alongside Community Grammar School and L.A. Primary School in Ahoro-Esiele, located within Oriire Local Government Area.
The bandits killed a teacher during the initial chaos before herding over 45 innocent pupils and educators into the bush. Acknowledging the agonizing psychological toll the 27-day impasse has taken on the affected families, Makinde noted that while political assurances often ring hollow as the days pass by without results, the government’s quiet tactical efforts remain absolute, requiring calculated patience to ensure a successful rescue that does not endanger the hostages.
The massive size of the Old Oyo National Park means tactical squads must navigate unmapped, dense forestry that favors asymmetric guerrilla fighters.
Governor Makinde emphasized that despite these operational bottlenecks, joint security forces, comprising military units, police commandos, and local anti-banditry squads, are not relenting, but are instead adjusting their tracking strategies to safely penetrate the criminal corridor.
The state has also placed a strong emphasis on intelligence management, aggressively warning residents against the spread of unverified rumors and false alarms on social media, which security officials state can tipped off the kidnappers and completely compromise ongoing tactical maneuvers.
In a bid to tighten the security net around the park’s peripheral communities, the state government has urged the public to utilize the toll-free Citizens Enquiry Number, 615, to report any unusual logistics movements, strange vehicles, or suspicious supply purchases.
The call for public vigilance comes amid growing frustration from regional socio-cultural groups, with traditional Yoruba monarchs already threatening to invoke spiritual deities against the bandits if the state fails to secure immediate results.
As operations intensify, the state government is maintaining a dual approach of strict kinetic pressure on the fringes of the park while working closely with local trackers to pinpoint the precise camp locations where the school children are being kept.
