Heavily armed gunmen killed at least five federal personnel in a late-night raid on a National Park Service (NPS) office in Oyo State, police confirmed Wednesday.
The assault targeted the NPS facility in Oloka, a remote community within Oriire Local Government Area, at approximately 9 p.m. on Tuesday. Preliminary reports from the scene indicate five park officers were fatally shot in what eyewitnesses described as a violent and well-coordinated attack that left several others injured. The attack has plunged surrounding communities into fear and tension, with residents fearful of further violence.
Security Chiefs Mobilize to Scene
Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, confirmed the incident, stating the assailants remain unidentified. “Yes, there was an attack by yet-to-be-identified men on officers of the National Park Service,” Ayanlade said.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Femi Haruna, alongside other regional security service chiefs, is en route to the location to assess the situation firsthand.
Immediate Tactical Deployment Ordered
In an immediate response, CP Haruna has ordered a major security mobilization to the area. “The Commissioner of Police has ordered the immediate deployment of tactical teams, operatives of the Mobile Police Force and the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit to the area to forestall any further breakdown of law and order,” DSP Ayanlade explained. Security presence in and around Oloka has been significantly reinforced.
Escalation in Regional Insecurity
The attack represents a severe escalation, directly targeting a federal government outpost responsible for managing national parks and protecting wildlife under the Federal Ministry of Environment. The motive is unknown, and no group has claimed responsibility, highlighting the persistent security challenges in Nigeria’s remote forested regions. A full investigation is underway.
