Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Wednesday declared a 16-hour daily curfew across 10 local government areas bordering the Old Oyo National Park, effective immediately, as security forces intensify operations against armed groups in the region. The curfew, which runs from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m., was declared initially for 48 hours with the possibility of extension.
What Happened
The directive was contained in a memo issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Musibau Babatunde, who stated that Governor Makinde approved the measure specifically to address security concerns in LGAs adjacent to the Old Oyo National Park.
The 10 affected local government areas are Oriire, Orelope, Irepo, Saki West, Saki East, Atisbo, Itesiwaju, Iseyin, Olorunsogo, and Atiba.
Residents in the affected zones have been directed to fully comply with the restriction and cooperate with security agencies deployed to enforce it. The state government said further directives would be communicated as the security situation is reviewed at the end of the initial 48-hour period.
Why It Matters
The curfew comes amid a severe and worsening security crisis across Oyo State. In recent weeks, the state recorded coordinated kidnappings of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire LGA — one of the areas now under curfew. The attacks triggered street protests in Ibadan, with residents blocking major roads to demand government action.
At the national level, the Oyo crisis has directly accelerated the passage of the State Police Bill through the House of Representatives, with lawmakers citing the Oyo school abductions as evidence of the failure of centralised policing. The bill passed with 289 votes in favour on June 11, 2026.
The Old Oyo National Park, a vast and sparsely governed forest reserve, has long served as a corridor and hideout for armed groups operating across the North-Central and South-West boundary zones.
What This Means for Nigerians
For residents of the affected LGAs, the 16-hour daily restriction — covering the entirety of evening and night hours — will significantly disrupt economic activity, particularly for farmers and traders who depend on early morning and evening movement.
For the broader Nigerian public watching the security situation, the Oyo curfew is a signal of how acute the crisis has become in states outside the historically troubled North. A South-West governor declaring a multi-LGA curfew is rare, and the duration and geographic scope of this one underscores the scale of the threat now operating around the national park corridor.
Read also:
- ‘I’ll Risk My Life for Them’: Makinde Makes Emotional Promise as VDM Leads Protest Over Oyo Kidnapped Children
- How They Are Still Missing: Makinde Reveals Abducted Oyo Schoolchildren, Teachers Remain in Captivity After 27 Days
- Kidnapped Oyo school principal begs Tinubu, Makinde to negotiate with abductors
The state government’s framing — that “further directives will be communicated” — suggests this curfew may be extended well beyond its initial 48-hour window.
“Governor Seyi Makinde has approved the declaration of a 16-hour curfew in 10 local government areas of the state.” — Secretary to the Oyo State Government, Prof. Musibau Babatunde
The Bottom Line
Oyo State’s 16-hour curfew across 10 LGAs is one of the most sweeping state-level security restrictions Nigeria has seen outside of declared states of emergency. With the state police bill now before the Senate and state assemblies for ratification, Oyo’s unfolding crisis will remain a central argument in the national debate over whether governors need direct control over policing to protect their constituents.
