By Sola Abegunde
When Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State declared that there would be a 16-hour curfew In 10 Local Government Areas bordering the Old Oyo National Park some days ago, I witnessed a rush of excitement, most especially, considering the time frame within which the curfew was to be operational and the areas it covered. I felt like something positively big is about to happen and I prayed fervently for an anticipated drastic action that would definitely bring smiles to the faces of a lot of people.
In fact, I came across a lot of reactions that aligned with my line of thoughts on different social media and Whatsapp platforms. I must say here that I was a bit curious about the fact that the curfew was to commence by 4pm daily and much more, that some big towns in Oke-Ogun like Iseyin, Saki and the rest of them were included.
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However, I comforted myself with the opinion that, perhaps, a kind of special security operation was required within those towns and at the specific time. I have to say that I started wondering why the action was actually necessary after a couple of days passed and there was no news, the kind of which many of us were eagerly anticipating.
During this period, Sunday Igboho and his group kept uploading series of videos on social media, detailing their activities around the Old Oyo National Park. In fact, on Thursday, the 25th of June, 2026, it was reported by the group that Igboho and his team were allegedly confronted by some armed Fulani men during an operation. Pictures and videos of a member of the team who was allegedly shot by the armed Fulanis was uploaded on Facebook.
I had earlier seen the team using a drone in the course of their operations and I was highly impressed. I have also seen the latest Newsletter by Governor Seyi Makinde. The Governor said that he had been preoccupied with the safety and well-being of the people of Oyo state and that they remain foremost priority of his Administration.
He said security agencies have continued intensive operations aimed at the safe return of the abducted children and teachers from Ahoro-Esiele and Yawota communities in Oriire Local Government. According to Governor Makinde, these efforts remain active and coordinated, with government providing every necessary support for the security agencies involved.
The above submissions from Governor Seyi Makinde is brilliant by any standard.
However, late in the evening of Friday, 26th of June, 2026, I watched a very disturbing video where a gentleman who introduced himself as the one who is responsible for recording and uploading series of activities of Sunday Igboho and his team raised very disturbing issues. According to the gentleman, he alleged that the Government of Oyo state announced a curfew on the second day their operations commenced.
He alleged that the curfew was enforced to slow down or hinder the operation by Sunday Igboho and his team. He gave a vivid explanations about how they came across the armed Fulanis who attacked them, how the gentleman who sustained gunshot wounds was treated and how the culprits were apprehended and handed over to relevant security agencies. He explained further that they have been collaborating and working in harmony with relevant security agencies. I am surprised that Governor Seyi Makinde’s Newsletter didn’t mention anything about this very important security issues and other activities of Sunday Igboho and his team.
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That is not the end of the matter. The gentleman alleged that there are miners inside the forest and that the Chinese who have been engaging in mining activities within the forest are the ones exchanging guns for mining products. He alleged further that Government announced the curfew when it was clear that they were closing in on the criminals. Honestly, I have heard a lot of stories which are very difficult to believe around certain criminal activities within the Old Oyo National Park. I have been extremely restraint to bring such information to public domain because of the extremely sensitive nature of the information.
However, I think Governor Makinde really needs to talk to these sensitive allegations. Again, I am wondering, since it is now clear that Sunday Igboho is committed to safety in our forest and that of our people, an issue Governor Makinde says is his foremost priority, if this is so, why is it difficult for the Government of Oyo state to work with Sunday Igboho?
It is very clear and evident that Igboho is working in collaboration with certain security Agencies and this is a very welcome development. It is the more reason there shouldn’t be any special issue for the Oyo state Government to collaborate with him. The gentleman who spoke in that video has a lot inside of him. My fervent prayer is that God Almighty will expose every evils in our society and those behind them in due course.
However, like I said, I think Governor Seyi Makinde needs to address the issues raised by the gentleman in his video. The issues raised are just too sensitive to be ignored.
Sola Abegunde.
