The Nigerian Army has taken over the entire stretch of the Old Oyo National Park as a military training ground in a move aimed at preventing kidnappers and other criminal elements from using the vast forest as a hideout.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Ibadan, Maj.-Gen. Auwalu Mahmuda, disclosed this on Tuesday, October 7, 2026, while receiving members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, who paid a courtesy visit to the Division’s headquarters in Odogbo, Ibadan.
Mahmuda said the directive to deploy the park as a training area was issued by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shuaibu, following the successful rescue of victims of the recent kidnapping incident in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
According to him, the decision is intended to deny kidnappers and other criminal elements access to the expansive forest, which could otherwise provide a strategic location for planning and executing criminal activities.
“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 with the Division fully utilising the park for military training, it would become increasingly difficult for criminals to operate or establish hideouts within the area.
The GOC also called for stronger cooperation between the military and the media in the fight against insecurity, particularly in combating misinformation and fake news.
He urged journalists to verify information obtained from unofficial sources with the military or relevant authorities before publishing or broadcasting such reports.
Mahmuda warned that the publication of unverified information, particularly on security matters, could worsen an already sensitive situation and cause damage that might be difficult to reverse.
“Sometimes, when unverified information is released, it can cause more harm than the information it intended to address,” he said.
The Army commander lamented that some journalists sometimes publish information without adequately establishing its accuracy, noting that false or misleading information could spread rapidly and cause serious consequences.
He described journalists as important partners of the Nigerian Army and national development, acknowledging the risks they often take in the course of gathering and reporting information from conflict and crisis zones.
“I have seen journalists go to places where other civilians dare to set their foot. They put themselves in difficult and dangerous situations simply to obtain accurate information that can be shared with the public,” Mahmuda said.
He appealed to the media to work more closely with the military and other security agencies to properly inform the public about ongoing efforts to tackle insecurity across the country.
Mahmuda also commended members of the Correspondents’ Chapel for their coverage of the activities of the 2 Division and its contributions to national security and development.
He said both military personnel and journalists, despite operating in different capacities, shared a common responsibility to contribute to the progress and security of Nigeria.
“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 said.
The GOC further pledged the support of the 2 Division for activities of the Oyo State Correspondents’ Chapel, including training and medical outreach programmes, particularly as the chapel prepares for its forthcoming Press Week.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Yinka Adeniran, commended the 2 Division for its efforts in maintaining security in Oyo State and other parts of its operational area.
Adeniran specifically acknowledged the successful rescue of the victims of the Oriire kidnapping incident.
He also appealed to the Division to support the chapel’s forthcoming Press Week, particularly in the areas of capacity-building lectures and medical outreach for journalists.
