Oyo Lifts Curfew in 10 LGAs, Sustains Manhunt for Kidnappers

• The Oyo State Government has officially lifted the dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed on 10 local government areas bordering the Old Oyo National Park, following a comprehensive review of the security situation. While residents can now resume normal activities, security agencies remain on high alert and are intensifying operations to rescue victims of the recent Oriire school abduction and dismantle criminal networks in the region.

The Oyo State Government has officially lifted the security curfew imposed on 10 local government areas following the recent kidnapping incident in Oriire Local Government Area. The decision was announced on Saturday, June 27, 2026, in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mr Dotun Oyelade, who confirmed that residents are now free to return to their normal daily activities .

The restriction, which initially ran from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. daily, was first introduced on June 24 as a 48-hour emergency measure designed to support ongoing security operations targeting kidnappers and other criminal elements operating around the Old Oyo National Park . The curfew was later extended by an additional 24 hours on Thursday, June 25, to allow security operatives more time to carry out coordinated operations across the affected councils .

The 10 local government areas affected by the curfew are Atiba, Atisbo, Irepo, Iseyin, Itesiwaju, Olorunsogo, Oriire, Oorelope, Saki West, and Saki East—all of which share boundaries with the Old Oyo National Park . These communities have been under heightened security watch following the May 15 coordinated attack on three schools located in the Yawota and Ahoro-Esienle communities of Oriire Local Government Area, where armed assailants kidnapped scores of pupils and teachers, triggering widespread concern over rising insecurity in Nigeria’s South-West region .

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Announcing the development in a statement issued in Ibadan on Saturday, Commissioner Oyelade expressed appreciation for the cooperation and understanding of residents in the affected councils throughout the period of the restriction. He reassured the public that the state government is maintaining close surveillance of the security situation, adding that efforts are continuing to tackle the kidnapping incident and ensure the safety of lives and property .

According to Oyelade, the government is closely monitoring the security situation, and efforts are ongoing to bring the kidnapping episode to a successful conclusion. He confirmed that although the movement restriction had been lifted, security forces will remain on the ground to ensure the rescue of abducted victims and restore lasting peace .

The state government has intensified rescue operations in collaboration with the military, the police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Amotekun Corps, and other security agencies. Officials have consistently maintained that securing the safe return of the abducted pupils and teachers remains a top priority while efforts to eliminate criminal activities in the affected communities continue .

The Federal Government has also weighed in on the security situation, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, reassuring residents of Oyo State and the South-West that every realistic measure, including international collaboration, is being taken to ensure the kidnapped victims are safely brought home without harm or avoidable loss of life. The President urged citizens to remain vigilant and support security agencies through intelligence sharing and community collaboration.

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State had earlier visited the affected communities and the abducted children’s families to reassure them of the government’s commitment to their rescue. He described the incident as deeply distressing and promised that no resources would be spared in ensuring the safe return of all abducted persons.

The Oyo State House of Assembly also passed a resolution commending the state government and security agencies for their swift response to the crisis, while calling for sustained efforts to address the root causes of insecurity in the border communities. Lawmakers urged the government to strengthen community policing and invest in intelligence-gathering infrastructure to prevent future occurrences.

Community leaders and traditional rulers in the affected local government areas have welcomed the lifting of the curfew, describing it as a sign of improving security. However, they also called on the government to maintain a strong security presence and address other challenges such as illegal mining and herder-farmer conflicts, which they believe contribute to the insecurity in the region.

Security analysts have noted that the lifting of the curfew suggests that the immediate threat has been contained, but they caution that the government must remain vigilant. They have called for a comprehensive approach that combines military operations with dialogue and development initiatives to address the underlying factors driving kidnapping and banditry in the area.

Efforts are currently underway to track down the fleeing suspects, with security patrols and intelligence-gathering operations ongoing across the affected local government areas. The state government has appealed to residents to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies to aid in the battle against crime.

Oyo Lifts Curfew in 10 LGAs, Sustains Manhunt for Kidnappers

Police Rescue 11 Kidnap Victims in Edo Forest After Fierce Gun Duel with Abductors

Edo State Police Command operatives, alongside local vigilantes and hunters, have successfully rescued 11 farm workers who were abducted by armed kidnappers in the Ogbido Community, Iyahmo, Edo North. All victims were recovered unhurt after a tactical operation that forced the suspects to abandon their captives and flee into the forest.

The Edo State Police Command has confirmed the rescue of 11 kidnapped victims in the Ogbido Community, Iyahmo, Edo North, following a distress call that triggered a swift and coordinated security response. According to a statement issued on Saturday by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, the victims—nine males and two females—were abducted while working on their farms in the agrarian community. The incident, which occurred on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at approximately 8:20 p.m., prompted an immediate intervention from the Iyahmo Divisional Police Headquarters.

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) led a combined team of police operatives, local vigilantes, and hunters into the surrounding forest where the kidnappers had taken their captives. The rescue team tracked the abductors to their hideout, leading to a fierce gun battle that lasted several minutes. Overwhelmed by the superior firepower and tactical maneuvering of the security forces, the armed suspects abandoned the victims and fled deeper into the forest.

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Ikoedem confirmed that all 11 rescued persons were found unhurt and were immediately taken to a medical facility for routine health assessment. They have since been reunited with their families. The rescued individuals have been identified as Braimah Destiny, a 46-year-old male; Aruna Idris, a 38-year-old male; Abudu Sharafadeem, a 38-year-old male; Godwin Elizabeth, a 28-year-old female; James Favour, a 28-year-old female; Nonso Ana, a 30-year-old male; Abdulilia Ozigi, a 26-year-old male; Lambo James, a 27-year-old male; Wasia Abdul, a 48-year-old male; Lucky Emmanuel, a 24-year-old male; and Suleman Aliyu, a 25-year-old male.

In a statement, the Commissioner of Police for Edo State, Monday Agbonika, praised the bravery and professionalism displayed by the police operatives, vigilantes, and hunters who risked their lives to ensure the safe return of the victims. He reiterated that the command has intensified security operations across the region and remains resolute in its commitment to protecting lives and property. CP Agbonika also appealed to residents of Edo communities to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies, stressing that community cooperation remains vital in the ongoing battle against kidnapping, banditry, and other violent crimes in the state.

Efforts are currently underway to track down the fleeing suspects, with security patrols and intelligence-gathering operations ongoing in the area.

Police Rescue 11 Kidnap Victims in Edo Forest After Fierce Gun Duel with Abductors

Why men should marry a second wife after 25 years — Morayo Afolabi-Brown’s husband

Nigerian lawyer and businessman Olufemi (Femi) Afolabi-Brown has sparked widespread reactions after explaining why he believes men who intend to practise polygamy should wait about 25 years after marrying their first wife before taking a second spouse.

Afolabi-Brown, who is married to media personality Morayo Afolabi-Brown, shared his views during an episode of The Brown Couch Podcast, where he discussed marriage, family dynamics and what he considers the ideal structure for a successful polygamous home.

According to him, one of the major causes of rivalry in polygamous families is marrying another wife too soon after the first. He argued that spacing the marriages by about 25 years would create a generational gap between the children, thereby reducing competition and conflict within the family.

He explained that a man who marries his first wife at the age of 25 should ideally wait until around the age of 50 before taking a second wife.

“Your first wife ought to be a lot older than your second wife. You can marry your second partner at age 50 if you first marry one at age 25.

“So the first child’s children become like the older brothers, uncles and aunts to the younger ones. They are not of the same generation, so there will never be rivalry between them,” he said.

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The businessman maintained that when children from different wives belong to separate generations, they are more likely to see one another as extended family rather than direct competitors for attention, inheritance or parental affection.

Afolabi-Brown further argued that taking another wife only a few years into a marriage often creates unnecessary tension that can destabilise the home.

“If you marry your first wife in the first year of your marriage and then marry your second wife in the third year, your home will be the centre of chaos. You cannot escape it,” he said.

He also stressed that couples should first establish a shared purpose before considering polygamy, saying such alignment often takes several years to achieve.

According to him, many marriages require at least a decade for both partners to fully align their vision, values and long-term goals.

“Before a husband and wife can consolidate in purpose, it may take 10 years.

“Once they identify that purpose and both of them have keyed into it, if the man goes to marry a second wife because of the purpose, the first wife will overlook it,” he added.

The comments have generated mixed reactions on social media, with some Nigerians agreeing that a wider age gap between wives and children could minimise rivalry in polygamous homes, while others argued that harmony in marriage depends more on mutual respect, fairness, communication and responsible leadership than the timing of additional marriages.

In Nigeria, polygamy is recognised under customary and Islamic law but is not permitted under statutory marriages conducted under the Marriage Act. Family experts have consistently maintained that successful polygamous families rely on trust, financial responsibility, effective communication and equitable treatment of spouses and children.

The remarks have also reignited conversations about modern marriage, family values and the realities of polygamous marriages in contemporary Nigerian society.

Why men should marry a second wife after 25 years — Morayo Afolabi-Brown’s husband