NIGERIA: Police Arrest Seven Over Deadly Oyo National Park Attack

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria 

The Oyo State Police Command has arrested seven suspected members of an armed banditry gang linked to the January 6 attack on forest rangers at the Old Oyo National Park, an incident that claimed the lives of five persons.

The arrests followed sustained intelligence-led operations after the attack on the park’s office in the Oloka area of Orire Local Government Area, where armed assailants reportedly stormed the facility late at night and opened fire on rangers and other personnel.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Ayanlade Olayinka, who described the arrests as a significant operational breakthrough.

According to the police, the suspects include the alleged mastermind and ringleader of the 10-man gang responsible for the violent assault, which occurred at about 9:00 p.m. on January 6.

Olayinka explained that following the attack, the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Femi Haruna, ordered the immediate deployment of operational assets to the area and directed the Command Monitoring Unit to take over the investigation.

He said the directive marked the start of an intensive intelligence-driven operation, which led to the arrest of three initial suspects, Mohammed Dangi (52), Abubakar Abdullahi, and Sheu Usman.

Olayinka said: “During sustained interrogation, the suspects confessed to the crime and provided details of how 10 members of their armed banditry group, riding on five motorcycles, carried out the attack.”

He added that investigations revealed the attackers’ primary objective was to forcefully free members of their syndicate who had earlier been arrested and were in the custody of forest guards.

Further intelligence gathering later led to the arrest of four additional suspects on January 25. They were identified as Toro Malami (43), Usman Alhaji Ummaru, Laolo Muhammadu (22), and Usman Alhaji Isah (32).

The police spokesperson said the suspects have continued to provide credible and actionable intelligence to assist security agencies in tracking down other fleeing members of the gang.

Olayinka reassured residents of the command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state, warning against the spread of unverified information capable of causing panic.

“The Oyo State Police Command states unequivocally that Oyo State will never be allowed to serve as a safe haven for crim

inal elements,” he said.