At least five personnel of the National Park Service (NPS) were killed on Tuesday night when suspected bandits launched a coordinated attack on the service's office in the Oloka area of Oriire Local Government Area, Oyo State. The violent incursion, which occurred at approximately 9:00 p.m. on January 6, 2026, has prompted a large-scale security mobilisation in the region.
The heavily armed assailants reportedly stormed the facility under the cover of darkness, engaging the officers on duty in a fierce gun battle that lasted for several minutes. While early reports from the scene indicated that five officers lost their lives, authorities are still working to confirm the total number of casualties. Some victims are believed to have been pursued into the surrounding forest, making the recovery of bodies difficult.
The Conservator of the Old Oyo National Park, Tesleem Kareem, confirmed the tragedy during an interview on Wednesday. He noted that the park management is currently focused on the grim task of identifying and retrieving those who fell during the assault. "Yes, it is true. We are in the process of evacuating the victims," Kareem stated, adding that the exact figure remains uncertain until the search operation is concluded.
The Oyo State Police Command has responded by deploying a massive contingent of security assets to the forest-fringed community. Commissioner of Police Femi Haruna, alongside other high-ranking security chiefs, visited the site on Wednesday morning to conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the security breach.
According to the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police Ayanlade Olayinka, the state has activated its tactical units to prevent further violence. "The Commissioner of Police, CP Femi Haruna, has deployed tactical teams, Mobile Police Force officers of the Nigeria Police Force, and the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit to the affected area to prevent further breakdown of law and order," Olayinka said in an official statement.
The attack has sent shockwaves through the Oloka community and neighbouring villages. Local sources reported that many residents fled their homes during the night as the sound of heavy gunfire echoed through the forest. The incident has heightened existing fears regarding the vulnerability of government personnel stationed in remote areas, which have increasingly become flashpoints for banditry and kidnapping.
The police have assured the public that a coordinated manhunt is underway to track the perpetrators into the dense terrain.
