Army takes over Old Oyo Park after Oriire abduction

The Nigerian Army has taken over the Old Oyo National Park in Oyo State and converted the vast forest reserve into a military training centre following the abduction and subsequent rescue of more than 40 schoolchildren and their teachers in Oriire Local Government Area.

The General Officer Commanding, 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj-Gen Auwalu Mahmuda, disclosed this on Wednesday while receiving members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Oyo State Council, at the division’s headquarters in Odogbo, Akinyele Local Government Area.

Mahmuda said the decision was based on a directive from the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Waidi Shuaibu, for the 2 Division to use the park as a training ground and prevent criminal elements from exploiting the expansive forest as a hideout.

Army turns forest into training ground

According to the GOC, the Army’s takeover of the park followed the rescue of the Oriire kidnap victims and was aimed at preventing a recurrence of the incident.

He said the presence of troops and regular military activities within the park would make it increasingly difficult for kidnappers and other criminal elements to use the forest as a base for their operations.

“The order came after the rescue of the victims of the Oriire kidnap. By taking it over, the park has become a no-go area for kidnappers and other men of the underworld using the large forest as a base for their nefarious activities,” Mahmuda said.

“With the 2 Division fully utilising the park, it will be a herculean task for men of the underworld to use it as their hideout,” he added.

The GOC said the move was part of efforts by the Army to strengthen security within the area and deny criminal groups access to locations that could be used to plan or execute attacks.

The Old Oyo National Park covers a large expanse of forest, making it a strategic location for military training and security operations.

Oriire victims spent 56 days in captivity

The PUNCH had reported that more than 40 pupils and their teachers were abducted during a coordinated attack on three schools at Yawota and Ahoro-Esienle in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15, 2026.

The victims were held for 56 days before they were rescued by joint security operatives on July 10.

The abduction generated widespread concern across Oyo State, particularly because of the number of pupils and teachers taken during the attack and the prolonged period they spent in captivity.

The rescue operation was carried out by security agencies after weeks of efforts to locate and secure the victims.

The Army’s decision to take over the Old Oyo National Park is therefore expected to strengthen the security presence around the forest and reduce the possibility of criminal elements returning to the area.

GOC seeks stronger media-military cooperation

Mahmuda also called for stronger collaboration between the military and the media in the fight against misinformation and fake news.

He urged journalists to verify information with the military and other relevant security authorities before publishing or broadcasting reports, warning that unverified information could cause serious damage during security operations.

“I will appeal to you to avoid publishing information without first confirming its exact and true nature with the military. Sometimes, when unverified information is released, it can cause more harm than the information it intended to address,” he said.

The GOC noted that some journalists sometimes publish information without adequate verification, stressing that misinformation could spread rapidly and cause irreparable damage.

He reassured journalists that the Nigerian Army considered them partners in the fight against insecurity but said the media also had a responsibility to ensure that information released to the public was accurate.

“I want to reassure you that the Nigerian Army sees journalists as partners, but they are also expected to play their part in demonstrating clearly that they are partners of the Nigerian Army,” Mahmuda said.

He further appealed for increased collaboration between the military and the media to educate the public about the activities of the Army and other security agencies in tackling insecurity.

Mahmuda commended journalists for reporting the activities and contributions of the 2 Division to national development, noting that members of the media often put themselves in difficult and dangerous situations to obtain information for the public.

He also promised military support for the Correspondents’ Chapel in areas including training and medical outreach, particularly ahead of the chapel’s forthcoming Press Week.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Yinka Adeniran, commended the 2 Division for its efforts to maintain security in Oyo State, particularly the successful rescue of the Oriire kidnap victims.

Adeniran also appealed to the military formation to support the chapel’s forthcoming Press Week, particularly through lectures and health outreach for its members.