The Oyo state government on Saturday said the suspected kidnappers involved in the Friday attack on LA School, Ahoro-Esinele, and Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esinele, Oriire LGUBEA, have been effectively confined within the Oyo National Park axis.
The state Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, stated this in a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan.
He stressed that this was as a result of coordinated security operations aimed at preventing their movement into neighbouring states.
According to Prince Oyelade, security operatives have successfully surrounded the area, restricting the suspects’ movement and preventing possible escape into Kwara state or other neighbouring locations.
Prince Oyelade stressed that immediately after the attack, security agencies, including the Nigerian Army, Civil Defence Agro Rangers and the Nigeria Police Force, with officers from the Monitoring Unit, were mobilised to commence rescue operations and that the state Commissioner of Police subsequently directed the Anti-Kidnapping Squad (AKS) to join the operation.
The Commissioner noted that the state Commissioner of Police coordinated with his counterpart in Kwara state, with both commands agreeing to strengthen surveillance and ensure any suspect attempting to cross state boundaries would be apprehended.
He declared that patrol operations commenced on Saturday after intelligence indicated the suspects remained within the National Park in Oyo state with three separate patrol teams comprising Amotekun operatives and hunters drawn from seven local government areas in Oke-Ogun deployed through Igbeti towards Oloka and adjoining communities.
Emphasising that there has been no direct contact with the abductors so far, he said authorities are currently focused on establishing the exact number of pupils affected, as school authorities have yet to provide accurate records of missing children, saying, “this has made the rescue operation more difficult. What we are trying to do now is locate their position and apply pressure,”
Prince Oyelade assured residents that security personnel remain actively engaged in the ongoing operation and expressed confidence that the sustained pressure on the suspects would support efforts to secure the safe release of those abducted.
He said that security operatives have effectively surrounded the area, with indications suggesting the suspects remain within the National Park corridor and are unable to move into Kwara State or other neighbouring areas.
The Commissioner said the swift response to the incident reflects the Oyo state government’s sustained investment in security infrastructure and proactive measures aimed at protecting lives and property across the state.
