IBADAN — In an unusually emotional and somber executive briefing, the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has confirmed that the scores of primary and secondary school pupils, alongside their teachers abducted from the Oriire Local Government Area nearly a month ago, are still trapped within the dense boundaries of the Old Oyo National Park.
The disclosure, which provides the most concrete intelligence update since the coordinated May 15, 2026, attacks, was delivered via the Governor’s official Newsletter (No. 140) on Friday morning. It marked exactly 27 days since heavily armed bandits stormed three schools across the Yawota and Ahoro-Esinle communities, dragging a still-unspecified number of children and educators into the state’s vast forest reserves.
A Brutal Geographic Reality
While the Governor’s confirmation offers cold comfort to families waiting in agonizing limbo, it highlights the staggering operational nightmare facing the state’s joint security task force. The Old Oyo National Park is not just a localized cluster of trees; it is a massive, unforgiving eco-corridor.
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ OLD OYO NATIONAL PARK FORESTRY PROFILE │
├───────────────────────────┬────────────────────────────┤
│ Total Landmass Area │ Approx. 2,500 sq Kilometres│
│ Administrative Footprint │ Spans across 10 distinct LGAs│
│ Primary Tactical Obstacles│ Dense canopy, lack of roads│
└───────────────────────────┴────────────────────────────┘
The sheer size of the reserve means the criminal cells can shift positions constantly, evading aerial drone surveillance under the thick forest canopy while using the difficult terrain as a natural shield against ground troops.
“I Know My Words May Sound Hollow”
Governor Makinde did not shy away from the growing public frustration and protests that have begun bubbling up in parts of Ogbomoso and Ibadan over the state’s failure to swiftly resolve the crisis. Addressing the parents and relatives directly, the governor broke traditional political protocol to acknowledge his administration’s limitations in the face of prolonged captivity:
“It is extremely difficult for me to even ask how you are doing. It has been 27 days since our children and teachers were forcefully taken… For 27 days, families have gone to bed without their loved ones. I know that many times I have said, ‘We will get them home safely.’ But I also know that having heard these words so often, without seeing that outcome yet, they may now sound hollow or empty. Please trust that they are not.”
Makinde emphasized that while the operational details of the rescue plan must remain strictly confidential to protect the lives of the hostages, tactical teams are actively pursuing credible, tech-driven leads inside the park daily.
