Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has confirmed the attack on the National Park in Oloka Village, describing it as a grave incident that will be met with a firm response.
In a statement shared on his X account, the governor noted that five National Park Service (NPS) forest guards lost their lives in the attack while performing their official duties. He offered condolences to the families of the deceased, stating, “This is a devastating loss. May their souls rest in peace.”
Governor Makinde added that preliminary investigations suggest the assault was a cross-border operation carried out by armed bandits. He assured residents that security agencies have been deployed to the area and called on locals to cooperate with authorities by providing intelligence.
He further emphasized, “Our administration will leave no stone unturned to respond decisively and prevent a recurrence of such attacks.”
The Oyo Global Forum (OGF) also condemned the incident, which occurred on Tuesday night at the Old Oyo National Park and claimed the lives of five rangers, including two residents from Oyo Federal Constituency.
Taiwo Hassan Adebayo, Chairman of OGF, highlighted the growing security threat along forested areas connecting northern Kwara, Niger, and Kebbi states, where armed groups and violent extremists have been increasingly active. He warned that the attack signals that such threats are now close to local communities and stressed the need for vigilance.
The Oyo State government has since restored normalcy in the affected areas and deployed additional security personnel to safeguard residents and the National Park.
