Several members of Iru Ekun, a private security outfit associated with Yoruba Nation advocate Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, were reportedly injured during a gun battle with suspected cross-border bandits inside the Old Oyo National Park in Oyo State.
According to reports, the operatives were carrying out a security operation aimed at locating and dismantling camps used by suspected kidnappers and other armed criminal groups believed to be operating within the forest reserve.
Before advancing into the area, the team reportedly deployed surveillance drones to identify suspected hideouts and monitor the movements of armed groups.
The mission, however, turned violent when the operatives allegedly came under heavy attack from armed men believed to be members of cross-border criminal networks. A fierce exchange of gunfire followed inside the forest.
Although several Iru Ekun operatives were said to have sustained injuries during the confrontation, the exact number of those wounded has not been officially confirmed. There has also been no independent verification of casualties among the suspected attackers.
The Old Oyo National Park and surrounding forests have long been identified as areas where kidnappers and other criminal groups are believed to operate, raising persistent security concerns among nearby communities.
The latest incident comes amid growing insecurity in parts of Oyo State. In recent months, armed men have reportedly targeted schools in Oriire Local Government Area, abducting pupils, teachers, and school administrators. One of the abducted teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was later confirmed dead after a video of his killing surfaced online.
These recurring attacks have heightened fear among residents, with many parents reportedly withdrawing their children from schools over concerns about safety.
