The Oyo State Police Command has announced the arrest of seven suspects in connection with the deadly attack on the Old Oyo National Park in the Oloka area of Orire Local Government Area, which claimed five lives.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Olayinka Alayande, the police described the arrests as a major operational breakthrough achieved through a coordinated offensive by combined security forces.
It disclosed further that the suspects are members of a 10-man armed banditry gang responsible for the January 6, 2026, attack on the National Park. The arrested individuals include the alleged mastermind and ringleader of the assault, which targeted forest rangers and other park operatives.
The attack occurred at about 9 p.m. when armed bandits, reportedly riding on motorcycles and wielding sophisticated firearms, stormed the Old Oyo National Park office. The assailants launched a violent operation that resulted in the death of five people.
In the aftermath of the incident, the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Femi Haruna, ordered the immediate deployment of operational assets to the affected area and directed the Command Monitoring Unit to take over the investigation. This action, the police said, marked the beginning of an intensive intelligence-driven operation.
DSP Alayande explained that the operation initially led to the arrest of three suspects – Mohammed Dangi (52), Abubakar Abdullahi, and Sheu Usman. Further intelligence gathering subsequently resulted in the arrest of four additional suspects across different locations in the country.
The four suspects, arrested on January 25, 2026, were identified as Toro Malami (43), Usman Alhaji Ummaru, Laolo Muhammadu (22), and Usman Alhaji Isah (32). Police said the arrests were carried out at the suspects’ various hideouts following painstaking investigations.
According to the statement, the suspects confessed to their involvement in the attack and revealed that 10 gang members, riding on five motorcycles, carried out the operation.
Their primary objective was to forcibly free members of their syndicate who had earlier been arrested by forest guards for criminal activities within the National Park and surrounding communities, an objective they reportedly achieved during the attack.
The Command noted that the arrested suspects have continued to provide credible and actionable intelligence, aiding ongoing efforts to track down other fleeing members of the gang.
The Oyo State Police Command reassured residents of its commitment to safeguarding lives and property, while urging the public to avoid spreading unverified information capable of causing panic or undermining public peace.
The Command also expressed appreciation to Governor Seyi Makinde for his continued support in strengthening the state’s security architecture and commended the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, for his leadership, strategic guidance, and operational support.
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