Oyo Imposes 16-Hour Curfew in 10 LGAs Around Old Oyo National Park Over Rising Kidnappings
The Oyo State Government says the restriction is part of efforts to contain insecurity and criminal activity in communities surrounding the park.
The Oyo State Government has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew across 10 local government areas surrounding the Old Oyo National Park, in what officials described as a response to kidnapping and other criminal activities in the area. The restriction, announced on Monday, is part of a broader security push in communities that have come under renewed pressure from armed groups.
The curfew affects local government areas located around the national park, an area the state government says has become a security concern. Reports said the measure was approved as part of efforts to curb criminal operations and restore confidence in affected communities. Available reports described the order as a 16-hour curfew, underscoring the seriousness with which the state is approaching the situation.
The decision also comes against the backdrop of the recent school abduction in the Oriire axis of Oyo State, which has heightened public attention on insecurity in parts of the state. Reports linked the latest security measures to the need to contain further attacks and restrict movement in vulnerable areas near the park.
For the government, the curfew represents a direct security intervention rather than a symbolic one. By narrowing movement during key hours, authorities appear to be trying to limit the operating space of kidnappers and other armed actors who have been associated with the corridor around the Old Oyo National Park. That makes the order not only a public safety directive, but also an acknowledgment of how deeply the security challenge has settled into the area.
At the time of reporting, the curfew remained in force as the state government continued its response to insecurity in the affected local government areas.