Gunmen Storm Oyo National Park Office, Leave Dead
By TOSI ORE
Oloka Attack: National Park Service Targeted in Deadly Assault
SUSPECTED bandits launched a deadly late-night attack on the National Park Service (NPS) office in Oloka, Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, killing at least five personnel and leaving others critically injured, security officials and eyewitnesses confirmed. The assault occurred at about 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday 6 January, catching officers off guard and plunging the rural community into shock.
According to residents and official statements, the gunmen — believed to be loosely organised criminal elements operating in forest-border communities — stormed the NPS facility and opened fire on officers on duty. An eyewitness described the scene as chaotic, with gunshots echoing through the village and bodies left at the site before the attackers retreated into nearby woodland.
Security Deployment Underway
The Oyo State Police Command has confirmed the attack. Police Public Relations Officer DSP Olayinka Ayanlade told reporters that the Commissioner of Police, CP Femi Haruna, and other service chiefs were en route to the scene to assess the situation firsthand and coordinate a response. Tactical units, the Mobile Police Force, and an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team have been deployed to secure the area and prevent further violence, the spokesperson added.
Authorities have urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with security forces as investigations continue. The deployment aims to restore law and order, protect lives and property, and track down the perpetrators.
Growing Insecurity in Rural Oyo
The attack is part of a broader pattern of insecurity affecting rural communities in Oyo’s forest fringes, where banditry and armed raids have become increasingly frequent. Observers say isolated outposts — including those of wildlife and conservation services — are vulnerable due to limited security infrastructure and proximity to forest corridors used by criminal groups to launch attacks and escape rapidly. Analysts warn that both conservation personnel and residents are at risk unless coordinated responses integrate improved intelligence, rapid reaction units, and community engagement mechanisms.
