Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has ordered a sweeping 16-hour curfew across ten local government areas in the state, citing escalating security concerns in communities adjacent to the Old Oyo National Park.
The curfew, which takes effect from Wednesday, 24 June 2026, will run daily between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. for an initial period of 48 hours. This means residents in the affected zones will be confined to their homes from late afternoon through the night and into the early morning.
In a memo issued on Tuesday, the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Musibau Babatunde, confirmed that Governor Makinde approved the measure after security briefings raised alarms about threats to lives and property in the forest-belt communities.
“The curfew affects local government areas bordering the Old Oyo National Park,” the statement read, adding that the restriction is a proactive step to prevent the escalation of criminal activities often linked to the vast, porous terrain of the park.
The affected council areas include Oriire, Orelope, Irepo, Saki West, Saki East, Atisbo, Itesiwaju, Iseyin, Olorunsogo, and Atiba — a cluster of agrarian communities that share boundaries with the sprawling national reserve, which has over time become a hideout for illegal miners, herders, and bandits.
Governor Makinde, who has faced mounting pressure to address insecurity in the state’s northern flank, directed security agencies to enforce the curfew strictly. The government also urged residents to comply fully, warning that violators would be dealt with according to the law.
“We understand the inconvenience this may cause, but the government’s primary duty is to safeguard the lives of its citizens,” Professor Babatunde added in the memo.
The 48-hour window, according to the government, will allow security operatives to assess the situation and conduct necessary operations without civilian interference. At the end of this period, the state government said it would review the security situation and issue further directives.
Spear News Nigeria understands that the curfew may be extended if security assessments indicate persistent threats.
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