Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Suspected terrorists attempting to infiltrate the border area between Ogbeese Forest and the Owo axis in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State were repelled by troops of the Nigerian Army on the evening of May 4, 2026. According to security sources, the incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. when soldiers from the 32 Brigade deployed at RA Uso responded to a distress call regarding the movement of armed suspects within the area. The troops mobilised quickly, made contact with the attackers and immediately engaged them in a fierce firefight, forcing the terrorists to abandon their operation and flee the scene.
Following the exchange, military personnel conducted a thorough sweep of the area and recovered one Dane gun and a mobile phone believed to belong to the fleeing assailants. However, the encounter came at a cost: one soldier was killed in action, while another sustained injuries. The injured soldier was evacuated to the Federal Medical Centre in Owo, where he is currently receiving treatment. No civilian casualties have been reported in connection with the attack.
The Nigerian Army has since intensified patrols and clearance operations in the vicinity to prevent further infiltration by criminal elements. Military authorities assured residents of continued efforts to maintain security and dominance over the area, particularly along the vulnerable forest corridor that separates Ondo from neighbouring states. The success of the operation underscores the growing threat posed by terror groups in the South‑West, where criminal networks have increasingly sought to establish hideouts in remote forest regions, taking advantage of the dense vegetation and porous borders.
The attack in Akure North is the latest in a series of violent incidents that have raised alarm across Ondo State. Just weeks earlier, suspected bandits targeted road workers at Obatedo in the same local government area, setting a tractor ablaze and sending panic through the community. In another incident, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Owo was attacked by armed thugs at his residence, suffering severe injuries. These events have put security agencies under increasing pressure as residents demand more robust protection.
The pan‑Yoruba socio‑political organisation Afenifere has repeatedly warned that terrorism and banditry are spreading across the South‑West, pointing to the 2022 Owo church massacre that claimed over 40 lives and more recent kidnappings in Ondo, Ekiti and Kwara States. In a statement issued on May 5, the group called for urgent action, advocating a mix of kinetic and non‑kinetic strategies to tackle the growing menace. While the military continues to conduct clearance operations in forests like Ogbesse, the recent attack demonstrates that insurgent groups remain determined to penetrate deeper into the region.
As troops maintain their foothold in the area, the government has urged citizens to remain vigilant and to provide security agencies with timely information. The loss of a soldier in the line of duty highlights the risks faced by security personnel and the need for continued investment in intelligence gathering and rapid response capabilities. For the communities living along the Ondo forest belt, the hope is that sustained military pressure will eventually push the terrorists out of their hiding places and restore lasting peace.
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