Army Converts Old Oyo National Park Into Training Ground After School Abduction

The Nigerian Army has moved to turn the vast Old Oyo National Park from a potential criminal hideout into a permanent security advantage following the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The General Officer Commanding, 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Major-General Auwalu Mahmuda, disclosed that the entire stretch of the park had been taken over by the military as a training site on the directive of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Waidi Shuaibu.

The decision followed the successful rescue of 44 pupils and teachers who were abducted from Oriire in May and held for 56 days before their release in July. The Army had previously said the rescue operation focused heavily on dismantling the kidnappers’ networks and hideouts within the Old Oyo National Park.

Mahmuda said the military’s presence in the park would make it increasingly difficult for kidnappers and other criminal groups to use the expansive forest as a base for their activities.

The move comes after concerns over the size and difficult terrain of the park, which covers about 2,500 square kilometres and had previously posed significant challenges to security agencies searching for the abducted victims. During the rescue operation, troops and other security agencies conducted sustained intelligence-led operations around the park and other locations.

The Army’s latest strategy effectively places military training and operations inside an area that had become central to the investigation and rescue efforts surrounding the Oriire abduction. By regularly using the terrain for training, troops are expected to become more familiar with the forest environment while maintaining a stronger security presence.

The development also follows a judicial inquiry into the Oriire incident. A commission of inquiry constituted by the Oyo State Government recommended a review of the laws and management of forest reserves, particularly the Old Oyo National Park, because of the security implications associated with the vast federal reserve.

The Oriire abduction occurred on May 15, 2026, when armed attackers invaded schools in the area, killing two teachers and abducting pupils and members of staff. The victims were eventually rescued on July 10 after more than a month of coordinated operations involving the military, police, intelligence agencies, Amotekun, local hunters and other security formations.

The Army has now added another layer to the security response by making the park a training environment. The objective is not only to prevent criminals from establishing new hideouts but also to strengthen troops’ ability to operate in difficult forest and rural terrain.

Mahmuda also called for stronger cooperation between the military and the media, particularly in reporting security operations. He warned that unverified information could undermine ongoing operations and cause serious consequences for both security personnel and civilians.

The GOC’s announcement signals a shift from responding to criminal activity in the Old Oyo National Park to maintaining a sustained military presence within the area. For communities around the reserve, the expectation is that increased troop activity will make the forest less attractive as a refuge for kidnappers and other criminal groups.

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