Suspected Bandits Attack Oyo National Park Service Office, Five Forest Guards Killed
Suspected bandits have launched a deadly attack on the National Park Service (NPS) office in Oloka,
Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State, killing at least five forest guards attached to the service,
security sources confirmed on Wednesday.
The late-night assault has heightened concerns about insecurity in remote areas of the South-West.
The incident occurred at approximately 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, when armed men
believed to be bandits stormed the NPS office located near a forest reserve and opened fire on officers
stationed there. Early reports indicate that the victims were on duty at the facility when the attack
unfolded.
Confirming the attack to journalists, the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Ayanlade
Olayinka, described the assailants as yet-to-be-identified armed men who targeted the National Park
personnel.
He said the Commissioner of Police, CP Femi Haruna, alongside other security service chiefs, was en
route to the scene to assess the situation and coordinate a response.
“Yes, there was an attack by yet-to-be-identified men against the men of the National Park,” Olayinka
said, noting that security operatives have been deployed to restore calm and prevent further breakdown
of law and order.
Teams dispatched include tactical units, Mobile Police Force officers, and members of the Explosive
Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit.
Because the attack took place near dense forest areas, efforts to recover the bodies of the victims are
ongoing, and initial accounts suggest they may still be in surrounding terrain that is difficult to access.
The Conservator of the Park, Tesleem Kareem, also confirmed the incident, saying authorities were in
the process of evacuating the victims and determining the full extent of casualties.
The exact number of injured personnel remains subject to official verification as rescue and recovery
operations continue.
The deadly attack has prompted an intensified security presence in parts of Orire LGA and neighboring
communities, with patrols dispatched along major roads and forest routes to deter further violence and
locate the perpetrators.
Residents have been urged to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements to security agencies.
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has also called for calm in the aftermath of the attack, describing the
loss of park service officers as a devastating blow.
In a statement on Wednesday, the governor pledged that his administration would work with security
agencies to ensure such attacks do not recur and that the perpetrators are brought to justice.
The assault marks a troubling escalation of violence against state institutions in forested and rural areas.
Security analysts say it underscores the ongoing threat posed by armed groups operating beyond
Nigeria’s traditional bandit hotspots, raising questions about the protection of personnel serving in
remote posts.
By Oyinkansola Shittu.
