Suspected bandits attacked Oyo State on Tuesday, launching a brutal nighttime raid on a National Park Service (NPS) office in Oloka village, Orire Local Government Area.
The deadly bandits’ attack in Oyo State resulted in the deaths of four personnel of the NPS and one seriously injured.
It was gathered that the attack occurred around 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 6, when heavily armed gunmen stormed the facility under the cover of darkness, catching the on-duty officers off guard.
Eyewitnesses described the assault as coordinated and violent, with the assailants reportedly shooting some victims and setting parts of the premises ablaze. The bandits fled into nearby forests after seizing weapons from the site.
The Police have also confirmed that bandits attacked Oyo State on Tuesday.
The spokesman for the Oyo State Police Command, Ayanlade Olayinka, confirmed the attack, noting that security chiefs are currently en route to the affected area.
“Yes, there was an attack by yet to be identified men against the men of the national park. The Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Police Command, and other service chiefs are currently on their way to the location. Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Police Command, CP Femi Haruna, has deployed Tactical teams, Mobile Police Force officers of the NPF, and EOD to the affected area to prevent further breakdown of law and order,” he stated.
An eyewitness in Orire Local Government Area who spoke to the press revealed that “five officers were attacked during the incident,” adding that “four were confirmed dead while the fifth person who sustained serious injuries is currently receiving treatment.”
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has also confirmed the attack.
Taking to his official X handle on Wednesday, Makinde revealed that attack was carried out by bandits that crossed border from the Northern part of Nigeria.
He, however, called for calm, assuring that the security agencies are on top of the situation.
Makinde stated: “Earlier today, there was a criminal attack by bandits at the National Park Office, Oloka Village which resulted in the death of five National Park Service Forest Guard Officers. This is a devastating loss of the lives of personnel in the course of carrying out their lawful duties. May their souls rest in peace.
“Preliminary investigations by the security agencies indicate that this was a cross-border attack carried out by bandits. The security agencies are already working together to address this incident and seek the support of residents in the area to cooperate with them in their intelligence gathering.
“Let me appeal to residents of Oyo State especially those in Oriire LGA and other LGAs along our borders, to remain calm as the security agencies have restored normalcy and deployed more personnel to the area. Our administration will leave no stone unturned to respond decisively to prevent a recurrence of such attacks.”
Although the culprits are yet to be identified, the attack has heightened concerns over the likely spread of insecurity from neighbouring Kwara State and some parts of the southwest.
Kwara, in recent months, witnessed a surge in bandit attacks, kidnappings, and assaults on security formations, particularly around forested border communities linking it to Niger and Kogi states.
However, residents have also warned that criminal groups operating within the vast forest corridors in Kwara, Oyo, and other adjoining states could flare up and cause havoc to the southwest region if not decisively dealt with.
