Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The security base sat inside a forest reserve along the Igbeti–Igboho axis, a stretch of road that links Olorunsogo and Oorelope Local Government Areas of Oyo State. It was a joint security post, manned by personnel of the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps under the banner of Operation Burst. The base had been constructed for the operatives by the Olorunsogo Local Government Council. It was supposed to be a symbol of the state's presence in a remote and vulnerable corridor, a place where security personnel could monitor the forest, patrol the road, and respond to threats. But on Sunday, September 13, 2026, at about 5:30 a.m., the base became the target. Suspected armed bandits attacked it, setting fire to a block within the facility and burning an abandoned patrol van. The attackers also carted away a generator and a motorcycle, according to the Chairman of Olorunsogo Local Government Area, Kazeem Olayanju, who confirmed the incident.
The Oorelope Local Government Command received a distress call that armed men had invaded the Operation Burst base and immediately mobilised its operatives alongside personnel from sister security agencies to the area. But the security team arrived after the attackers had already fled. Preliminary inquiries revealed that the bandits stormed the base in large numbers and opened fire on the personnel with what was described as powerful weapons. The attackers were suspected of attempting to overrun the security post, kill the personnel stationed there, and seize their weapons. The efforts to dislodge the personnel on the ground were thwarted, and the attackers fled the scene. No casualty was recorded in the attack, according to the security update. Security operatives combed the surrounding area and made efforts to locate the perpetrators, but they could not be apprehended.
The incident has raised serious questions about the security situation in Oyo State, particularly along the Igbeti–Igboho corridor, which has become a route of concern for banditry and kidnapping. The fact that a security base, manned by a joint taskforce, could be attacked in such a manner, and that the attackers could escape without being caught, speaks to the challenges facing security agencies in the state. The attack also highlights the vulnerability of remote forest reserves, which provide cover for armed groups and make it difficult for security forces to track and engage them.
Operation Burst was established by the administration of the late former Governor Abiola Ajimobi as part of efforts to strengthen security and combat criminal activities across Oyo State. The outfit comprises officers of the Nigerian Army and the NSCDC. The attack on its base is a significant blow to the morale of the operatives and a reminder of the risks they face in the line of duty. The Oorelope Local Government Command said further details would be made available as investigations and security operations continued. The Chairman of Olorunsogo Local Government Area, Kazeem Olayanju, confirmed the attack and explained that no casualty was recorded. He said the assailants burnt the security post constructed for the operatives, set an abandoned vehicle ablaze, and carted away a generator and motorcycle. The incident occurred between 5:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.
Efforts to obtain the reaction of the Commander of Operation Burst in Oyo State, Col. Olayinka Olayanju (retd.), proved abortive, as none of the telephone numbers available for him could be reached at the time of filing this report. The Joint Security Taskforce has reportedly intensified operations in the area in an effort to identify and arrest those responsible for the attack. The Oyo State Police Command and other security agencies have not yet issued a detailed public statement on the incident.
The attack on the Operation Burst base is not an isolated incident in Oyo State. The state has witnessed a series of security challenges in recent months, including kidnappings, banditry, and attacks on communities. In August 2026, suspected bandits killed a yet-to-be-identified man and abducted two others in the Igbeti area. In July, gunmen attacked a police station in the state, killing two officers. The Igbeti–Igboho corridor has been particularly problematic, with reports of bandits operating in the forest reserves that dot the area. The attack on the security base is a stark reminder that the fight against banditry and kidnapping in Oyo State is far from over.
The people of Olorunsogo, Oorelope, and surrounding communities are now left to wonder whether the security base that was meant to protect them will be rebuilt and reinforced, or whether they will be left to fend for themselves. The Chairman of Olorunsogo LGA, Kazeem Olayanju, has called for calm, but the fear that has gripped the area is palpable. The attack occurred hours before schools were set to resume for a new academic session, a detail that has further heightened concerns about the safety of students and teachers travelling along the Igbeti–Igboho axis. As the Joint Security Taskforce intensifies its manhunt for the perpetrators, the question on everyone's mind is the one that the security agencies must answer: how did a bandit gang manage to attack a fortified security base in the early hours of the morning, and what will be done to prevent it from happening again?
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