Full Breakdown
Army Converts Old Oyo National Park into Training Ground After School Kidnapping
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Core Event: Army Takes Over Old Oyo National Park
The Nigerian Army’s 2 Division, under Maj-Gen Auwalu Mahmuda, announced that Old Oyo National Park in Oyo State has been repurposed as a military training site. The order came from Chief of Army Staff Lt-Gen Waidi Shuaibu to deny kidnappers access to the forested area that was previously used as a hideout.
Background & Context
On May 15, 2026, armed gunmen attacked three schools in the Oriire Local Government Area—Community High School, Community Grammar School (Ahoro-Esinle) and Yawota Baptist Nursery and Primary School—abducting pupils and teachers. The victims were held for 56 days before joint security forces rescued them on July 10, 2026. The incident prompted a reassessment of security gaps in forested zones.
Data & Statistics
- Abduction count: The PUNCH reported more than 40 pupils and teachers taken; Premium Times reported more than 46.
- Captivity duration: 56 days before rescue.
- Geographic focus: The forest reserve spans a large expanse of Old Oyo National Park, a strategic location for both criminal concealment and military training.
Official Statements & Responses
Maj-Gen Mahmuda said the takeover will make the park a “no-go area” for criminal elements and that regular troop presence will hinder future kidnappings.
Lt-Gen Waidi Shuaibu directed the 2 Division to use the park for training, citing the need to prevent a repeat of the Oriire kidnapping.
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde received the Judicial Commission of Inquiry report in September and said the state will review its recommendations.
Yinka Adeniran, Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Oyo State Council, praised the army’s security efforts.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The exact number of abducted pupils and teachers remains unclear. The PUNCH cites “more than 40,” while Premium Times cites “more than 46.” No independently verified figure is available.
Why It Matters
Converting the park into a training ground disrupts its use as a criminal hideout and sustains a visible military presence that may deter future kidnappings. The move signals a shift toward terrain-based counter-insurgency tactics in Nigeria’s southwestern states.
Timeline
- May 15, 2026: Coordinated abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire LG Area.
- July 10, 2026: Rescue of victims after 56 days in captivity.
- Late September 2026: Governor Makinde receives Judicial Commission report; Maj-Gen Mahmuda announces park takeover.
Verbatim Quotes
- “On the order of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Waidi Shuaibu, the 2 Division has taken over the entire stretch of the Old Oyo National Park as a training site in order to prevent a repeat of the Oriire kidnap saga,” — Gen Auwalu Mahmuda
- “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,” — Gen Auwalu Mahmuda
What’s Next
- The Oyo State government will review the Judicial Commission’s recommendations and implement measures to address identified security lapses.
- The army will continue training operations within Old Oyo National Park, maintaining an active presence to deter criminal activity.
- Military officials have called for tighter collaboration with journalists to verify information before publication.