Oyo school abduction: Kidnappers trapped in national park — Commissioner

Suspected kidnappers involved in the attack on LA School and Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esinle, in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State, have been reportedly trapped within a section of the Old Oyo National Park, as security operatives intensify efforts to rescue abducted victims.

The Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, disclosed this in a statement released on Saturday in Ibadan.

He said security agencies had sealed all possible escape routes to prevent the suspects from fleeing into neighbouring states.

According to him, the attackers are currently confined within the national park axis following coordinated operations involving security forces.

“The kidnappers have been effectively confined within the National Park axis following coordinated security operations aimed at preventing their movement into neighbouring states,” he said.

Oyelade said the operation was launched shortly after the attack on Friday, which led to the killing of a teacher and the abduction of pupils and staff members, including school principals and teachers.

“Security operatives have successfully surrounded the area, restricting the suspects’ movement and preventing possible escape into Kwara State or other neighbouring locations,” Oyelade said.

He said operatives of the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, the Civil Defence Agro Rangers and the Amotekun Corps were deployed to the area for rescue operations.

According to him, the Commissioner of Police also activated the Anti-Kidnapping Squad, while coordinating with his counterpart in Kwara State to block possible escape routes across state boundaries.

He added that intelligence indicated the suspects remained within the national park, prompting intensified patrols by joint security teams and local hunters drawn from communities in the Oke-Ogun axis.

Oyelade, however, noted that security forces had yet to establish direct contact with the abductors, adding that efforts were ongoing to confirm the exact number of victims still in captivity.

He said difficulty in obtaining accurate school records had slowed verification of the number of missing pupils and staff.

“This has made the rescue operation more difficult. What we are trying to do now is locate their position and apply pressure,” he said.

The commissioner assured residents that security operatives were maintaining pressure on the suspects and were confident of securing the release of the victims.

He also highlighted the state government’s investment in security infrastructure, noting that the Amotekun Corps currently operates 181 vehicles, 450 motorcycles and over 2,500 personnel across the state.

Oyelade reiterated the government’s commitment to rescuing the abducted victims and restoring normalcy to affected communities.