Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Suspected armed bandits have launched a deadly assault on the National Park Service (NPS) office in Oloka, located in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, resulting in the deaths of at least five park officials and raising fresh alarm over escalating violence in rural parts of the state. The late-night attack, which took place around 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, underscores growing insecurity in forest-border communities and the continued threat posed by criminal elements operating with relative impunity.
According to multiple security and local reports, suspects believed to be bandits stormed the old National Park Service facility under cover of darkness and opened fire on officers stationed there. Eyewitnesses described a sudden, coordinated assault that caught personnel off guard, with several victims shot and others reportedly burned in the chaos that unfolded.
The Conservator of the Park, Tesleem Kareem, confirmed the attack in an interview, noting that the exact number of casualties was still being ascertained but that at least five NPS personnel were killed during the assault. Bodies of the victims have not yet been fully recovered as they are believed to be within the vicinity of the nearby forest area surrounding the office.
The Oyo State Police Command also confirmed the incident, with Public Relations Officer DSP Ayanlade Olayinka describing the perpetrators as “yet-to-be-identified armed men” who targeted the park service officers. In response, the Commissioner of Police, CP Femi Haruna, is reported to have mobilised tactical teams, Mobile Police Force units and personnel from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit to the scene in an effort to restore calm and prevent further breakdown of law and order.
Security reinforcements have been deployed to secure the surrounding area and to facilitate recovery of the victims, while investigations continue to determine the identities of the attackers and their motives. Police have urged local residents to remain calm and to cooperate with security agencies as operations intensify to apprehend those responsible.
The attack has caused tension in the surrounding communities, with local residents expressing concern about the pattern of attacks by armed groups in rural Oyo, including assaults on government personnel and facilities. The incident highlights persistent vulnerabilities in areas adjacent to forest reserves, where banditry and criminal incursions have previously been reported.
As authorities continue their response and search operations, Oyo State remains on alert, with heightened security presence in affected areas aimed at deterring further violence and protecting both civilians and public servants.
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