Oriire School Abduction: Army Converts Old Oyo Park Into Training Ground to Prevent Fresh Kidnappings

The Nigerian Army has designated the Old Oyo National Park in Oyo State as a military training area as part of measures to prevent a recurrence of the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area.

The development was disclosed by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Auwalu Mahmuda, during a meeting with members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council.

Mahmuda said the decision was taken following the security concerns raised by the abduction incident in Oriire and was based on a directive from the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shuaibu.

According to the GOC, the Army would utilise the entire stretch of the Old Oyo National Park as a training ground. The objective, he explained, is to prevent criminal elements, particularly kidnappers, from exploiting the vast forested area as a hideout.

The move is significant because of the difficult terrain associated with large forest reserves, which can provide concealment and escape routes for criminal groups operating in affected communities.

The Oriire incident involved the abduction of pupils and school personnel from schools in the area. The victims were subsequently rescued after spending weeks in captivity, following sustained security operations.

The incident generated widespread concern over the safety of schools and rural communities in the area, while also drawing attention to the security challenges posed by expansive forests within and around parts of Oyo State.

Mahmuda said turning the park into a military training environment would increase the Army’s operational presence in the area and make it more difficult for criminals to establish or maintain camps within the forest.

He also emphasised the importance of intelligence gathering and cooperation among security agencies, communities and other stakeholders in tackling kidnapping and other forms of criminality.

The GOC further appealed to journalists to verify security-related information before publication, noting that inaccurate reports and misinformation could undermine ongoing military operations. He stressed that the media remained an important partner in efforts to promote national security and development.

The Army’s latest move effectively places the Old Oyo National Park at the centre of a renewed security strategy following the Oriire abduction. Authorities will now be expected to sustain the military presence and complementary intelligence-led operations necessary to prevent the forest from becoming a sanctuary for kidnappers and other criminal groups.