The Nigerian Army will use the Old Oyo National Park as a military training centre following the abduction and safe release of pupils, students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division Nigerian Army, Major-General Auwalu Mahmuda, disclosed this on Wednesday while receiving members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, at the division’s headquarters in Odogbo, Ibadan.
Mahmuda said the division had received an order from the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Waidi Shuaibu, to take over the park and use it as a training ground to strengthen security and prevent a recurrence of the Oriire kidnapping incident.
According to the GOC, the military’s presence in the Old Oyo National Park would help prevent kidnappers and other criminal elements from using the vast forest as a hideout.
“On the order of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Waidi Shuaibu, the 2 Division has taken over the entire stretch of the Old Oyo National Park as a training site in order to prevent the repeat of the Oriire kidnap saga,” Mahmuda said.
He added that the full utilisation of the park by the Nigerian Army would make it more difficult for criminals to operate from the area.
“With the 2 Division fully utilising the Park, it will be a herculean task for men of the underworld to use it as their hideout,” he stated.
Old Oyo National Park to Support Security Operations After Oriire Kidnap
The decision to turn the Old Oyo National Park into a military training centre comes after the abduction and subsequent safe release of pupils, students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The Nigerian Army said the move was aimed at preventing criminals from exploiting the extensive forest area as a base for kidnapping and other illegal activities.
The GOC’s announcement signals an expanded military presence in the area, with the 2 Division expected to use the park for training and related security activities.
During the meeting with members of the NUJ Correspondents’ Chapel, Mahmuda stressed the importance of collaboration between the media and the military in addressing insecurity and combating misinformation.
He urged journalists to verify information with the relevant military authorities before publishing or broadcasting reports, warning that unconfirmed claims could cause serious damage.
“I will appeal to you to avoid publishing information without first confirming its exact and true nature with the military. Sometimes, when unverified information is released, it can cause more harm than the information it intended to address,” he said.
Mahmuda lamented that some journalists publish information without adequate verification, noting that misinformation can spread rapidly and cause irreparable damage.
He maintained that stronger cooperation between the media and the military would help reduce the spread of fake news and improve public understanding of security operations across the country.
The GOC also described journalists as important partners in national development, commending their willingness to visit dangerous locations to gather information and report events to the public.
“I want to reassure you that the Nigerian Army sees journalists as partners, but they are also expected to play their part in demonstrating clearly that they are partners of the Nigerian Army,” he said.
Mahmuda further appealed to the media to help enlighten Nigerians about the efforts of the Nigerian Army and other security agencies to tackle insecurity.
“We are all Nigerians, irrespective of the fact that some of us wear uniforms. I believe that, whatever we are doing, we are all working towards the success and development of this country,” he added.
The GOC assured members of the Oyo State Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists of the division’s support in areas such as professional training and medical outreach.
He said the military would consider supporting the chapel’s forthcoming Press Week activities, particularly initiatives aimed at improving members’ professional development and welfare.
Mahmuda also commended the chapel for reporting the activities of the 2 Division and highlighting its contributions to national development.
Earlier, the Chairman of the NUJ Correspondents’ Chapel, Mr Yinka Adeniran, praised the Nigerian Army for its security efforts, particularly the successful rescue of victims abducted in Oriire Local Government Area.
Adeniran also appealed to the division to support the chapel’s forthcoming Press Week, including its planned lecture and health outreach programmes for members.
The meeting ended with calls for stronger collaboration between the Nigerian Army and journalists to improve public awareness, promote responsible reporting and support efforts to address insecurity in Oyo State and other parts of Nigeria.
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