Oyo Government Reopens 10 Border Local Areas and Assures Farmers of Absolute Safety as Security Forces Flush Out Forest Bandits

Life is finally returning to normal in the border communities of Oyo State after the government completely lifted the strict movement restrictions that kept 10 local government areas under lock and key for days.

The decision to end the curfew brings immediate relief to residents, farmers, and business owners who have been navigating a highly tense security lockdown. The state government had initially locked down these areas to trap and flush out armed bandit syndicates using the dense forests of the Old Oyo National Park as a launchpad for kidnappings, including the recent attack on a school in the Oriire local government area.

Special Adviser on Security Matters to Governor Seyi Makinde, Abayomi Fagbenro Bibire, confirmed that the emergency measures achieved their primary tactical goals. He revealed that a combined force of military personnel, police units, and local hunters successfully disrupted the criminals’ escape networks and stabilized the region, making the daytime and nighttime restrictions no longer necessary.

The curfew had completely halted transit from late afternoon to early morning across a massive stretch of land, directly affecting Oriire, Orelope, Irepo, Saki West, Saki East, Atisbo, Itesiwaju, Iseyin, Olorunsogo, and Atiba.

Addressing community leaders and traders during a security briefing, Bibire made it clear that while people are now free to move and open their shops at any hour, the government is not letting its guard down.

“Our decision to lift this curfew is a testament to the hard work of our security agencies who worked around the clock to restore order,” Bibire stated. “However, I want to reassure every resident that your safety remains our absolute priority. We are not pulling our men out of the forests. Our patrol teams, undercover operatives, and intelligence networks are still very much on the ground. We have set up permanent checkpoints along critical border routes, and we will continue to monitor these spaces to ensure that those criminal elements never find a foothold in our state again.”

The reopening is particularly vital for the Oke-Ogun zone, often described as the food basket of the state. The 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. curfew had severely damaged the local economy, preventing farmers from transporting perishable agricultural produce to urban markets and forcing early closures at traditional cattle markets like the ones in Ado-Awaye and Kara.

Local community heads have warmly welcomed the government’s announcement, praising Governor Makinde for balancing tough security measures with an understanding of the people’s economic survival.

To prevent future security breaches, the state government has asked residents to stay highly alert and continue reporting any strange faces or suspicious movements to local authorities. By pairing the end of the curfew with a promise of continuous, aggressive border monitoring, the Oyo State administration is aiming to prove that it can keep its communities safe without permanently disrupting the daily bread of its citizens.