Abducted Oyo Pupils, Teachers Trapped Inside Old Oyo National Park — Makinde

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has revealed that the schoolchildren and teachers snatched from their classrooms nearly four weeks ago are being held inside the Old Oyo National Park.

The park is massive — covering about 2,500 square kilometres across ten local government areas. That's bigger than many Nigerian towns. And its rugged terrain is giving security forces a serious headache.

Makinde broke the news on Friday, exactly 27 days after armed men stormed schools in Yawota and Ahoro-Esinle communities in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15, 2026. The attackers carted away pupils and teachers in broad daylight.

"Our security reports indicate that they remain within the wider Old Oyo National Park axis," the governor said in a statement. "I mention this not to discourage anyone, but to help us understand the scale of the challenge before us."

The governor admitted that repeated promises of a safe return might now sound hollow to grieving families. "I know that many times I've said, 'We'll 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 aren't."

Makinde said security agencies are working every lead and taking every lawful action to secure the victims' release. But he refused to share operational details, citing sensitivity.

He also warned the public against spreading unverified information. "These are sensitive matters, and we must avoid anything that could jeopardise rescue efforts," he said.

The governor urged residents to report suspicious activity through the state's toll-free emergency number, 615, which operates 24/7.

Old Oyo National Park is one of Nigeria's oldest protected areas, originally a forest reserve gazetted in 1936. It became a national park in 1999. The park is known for its archaeological sites — ruins of the old Oyo Empire — but also for its dense bush and rocky hills that make it a hideout for criminals.

Bandits and kidnappers have used similar forest reserves across the North-West and North-Central as bases for years. The Sambisa Forest in Borno and the Kamuku National Park in Kaduna have become notorious for hosting captives. Now, Old Oyo appears to be joining that list.

Makinde visited the affected communities on Friday to console families, including the husband of the abducted principal. Photos from the visit showed the governor looking grim, surrounded by distraught relatives.

For the parents and colleagues of the missing, every passing day deepens the agony. Twenty-seven nights of not knowing if their children are alive, fed, or safe.

The governor ended his statement with a plea: "Continue to pray for their safe return. Continue to remain vigilant. And continue to support the efforts of our security agencies as we work towards bringing every one of them home safely."