Bandits Storm National Park Office, Kill Five Rangers in Oyo

By Tgnews Reporter

Suspected bandits launched a deadly assault on the National Park Service (NPS) office in Oloka, Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State, late Tuesday night, leaving at least five park officials dead.

The attack, which occurred around 9:00 p.m. on January 6, caught the rangers off guard as they were reportedly resting at their post. Eyewitness accounts suggest the assailants shot some victims and set others ablaze, before carting away weapons and fleeing into the dense surrounding forest.

The Old Oyo National Park, where the incident took place, is known for its rich wildlife and historical significance, spanning vast forested areas that have increasingly become hideouts for criminal elements.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the bodies of the victims had not been recovered, believed to be scattered within the thick forest terrain, complicating rescue and evacuation efforts.

Oyo State Police Command spokesman, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, confirmed the incident, describing the attackers as “yet-to-be-identified armed men.”

“Yes, there was an attack by yet-to-be-identified men against the men of the national park,” Olayinka stated.

“The Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Police Command, CP Femi Haruna, and other service chiefs are currently on their way to the location. Meanwhile, the CP has deployed tactical teams, Mobile Police Force officers of the NPF, and EOD [Explosive Ordnance Disposal] to the affected area to prevent further breakdown of law and order.”

National Park Service rangers, often armed to protect wildlife from poachers, have become vulnerable targets in remote postings.

The Conservator of the Park, Tesleem Kareem, also acknowledged the tragedy, telling reporters: “Yes, it is true. We are in the process of evacuating the victims.”

The attack site lies in Orire LGA, a rural area in northern Oyo State prone to spillover insecurity from neighboring regions.

Local residents expressed outrage and fear, with some reporting heightened anxiety over potential follow-up strikes. Community leaders have renewed calls for enhanced security patrols and intelligence in forest corridors traditionally used by bandits.

This incident highlights the growing audacity of armed groups in Nigeria’s South-West, a region once considered relatively insulated from the banditry plaguing the North. Security analysts warn that unchecked forest incursions could embolden further attacks on public institutions.

Authorities have urged calm while investigations continue, but families of the victims await closure as recovery operations intensify in the rugged terrain.