Gunmen Kill Five National Park Service Personnel in Oyo Forest Attack

At least five personnel of the National Park Service have been killed following a late-night attack on a National Park Service office in Oloka, Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State. The attack reportedly occurred around 9 pm on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, when armed men suspected to be bandits stormed the facility located within a forested area. Security sources said the assailants arrived in large numbers and opened fire on officers stationed at the post.

According to preliminary information, the attackers overpowered the officers, killed at least five of them, and carted away several service weapons belonging to the National Park Service. The incident reportedly forced surviving personnel to flee the area for safety. As of the time the information became public, the bodies of the slain officers were still in the forest, with recovery efforts delayed due to security concerns and the difficult terrain.

Local sources said the Oloka axis has increasingly come under threat due to its proximity to forest routes allegedly used by criminal groups operating across parts of Oyo, Ogun, and Kwara states. The National Park Service maintains formations in forest reserves to protect wildlife and prevent illegal activities such as logging and poaching, but officers have repeatedly raised concerns about inadequate arms and manpower in the face of growing insecurity.

Security agencies are expected to deploy reinforcements to the area as investigations continue into the attack. What do you think should be done to better protect officers deployed to Nigeria’s forests and curb armed attacks in rural areas? Share your thoughts in the comments section.

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