Security forces tracking the perpetrators of the recent school abductions in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have successfully cornered the criminal syndicate within the expansive terrains of the Old Oyo National Park.

The breakthrough comes as a massive combined team of conventional police operatives, military personnel, local hunters, and specialized tactical units tightened a security dragnet around the reservation area. The intensive operation aims to secure the immediate, unharmed release of all abducted victims, including pupils, students, and Mrs. Alamu Folawe, the Vice Principal of Community Grammar School, Esiele.

The kidnappers had launched simultaneous, coordinated raids on the Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, alongside the shared premises of Community Grammar School and L.A. Primary School in Esiele.

Operating on motorcycles, the armed hoodlums killed an assistant headmaster, Mr. Adesiyan, and a local commercial motorcyclist before fleeing into the forest. They also stole the Vice Principal’s Toyota Corolla, which was later found ablaze and abandoned on a boundary road leading into the thick vegetation.

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde noted that while the state has deployed massive logistics, surveillance infrastructure, and mobility assets to aid the rescue operation, the initial incident exposed a critical gap in local intelligence-sharing. Speaking at the inauguration of the newly established Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) in Ibadan, the governor urged residents to remain highly vigilant and report unusual movements to security agencies immediately, stressing that timely public cooperation is essential to preventing such regional security breaches.

The state government and police command have assured the public that all escape routes out of the national park have been completely cordoned off. Operational assets and advanced intelligence platforms remain fully engaged on the ground to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice and the victims are safely reunited with their families.