Five park rangers were killed and several others injured after suspected bandits attacked the National Park Service office in Oloka, Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State late Tuesday night.
The assault occurred around 9 p.m. on January 6, 2026, when gunmen overran the facility, shooting some personnel and reportedly burning others. The attackers also carted away weapons before fleeing into the surrounding forest.
Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka confirmed the incident, saying the Commissioner of Police and other security chiefs were en route to the scene. Tactical teams have been deployed to restore order and track down the assailants.
Conservator of the Park, Tesleem Kareem, verified the attack and noted ongoing efforts to recover the victims’ bodies from the forest.
Residents expressed concern over rising insecurity in areas near Old Oyo National Park, urging authorities to enhance patrols and intelligence gathering to prevent similar attacks in the future.