Terrorists struck a national park office in Oyo State, Nigeria, killing at least five rangers in a brazen nighttime assault.
Suspected terrorists launched their deadly attack on the Old Oyo National Park Service office in Oloka, Orire Local Government Area, around 9 p.m. on January 6, 2026.
They stormed the facility on motorcycles, catching the rangers off guard as they ate dinner outside.
The assailants opened fire without warning, slaughtering at least five personnel and possibly injuring others.
In a gruesome twist, attackers burned one victim’s body, hinting at the use of explosives during the raid.
As chaos erupted, the terrorists fled into the surrounding dense forest, leaving behind a scene of devastation.
Rescuers struggled to recover the bodies, which remained scattered in the wilderness as of January 7.
Teslim Kareem, the park’s conservator, confirmed the tragedy and noted ongoing efforts to evacuate victims.
Meanwhile, local leader Chief Joel Olatunde Alagbe appealed for stronger security measures to protect the remote area.
Authorities responded swiftly to the bloodshed.
Oyo State Police Commissioner Femi Haruna dispatched tactical teams, mobile police units, and explosive experts to the site.
Security chiefs, including Haruna, rushed to Oloka to assess the damage and coordinate a manhunt.
However, the attack exposed vulnerabilities in Nigeria’s forest reserves, where terrorists often hide before striking nearby communities.
This incident marks a disturbing southward push of terrorist violence, traditionally rampant in Nigeria’s northwest.
Online reactions ignited ethnic tensions, with some users blaming Fulani herders and others pointing to Yoruba factions.
For instance, commentators demanded local forces like Amotekun step up, while debates raged over ties to broader insecurity.
Nevertheless, experts warn that such raids could escalate if forests remain unsecured hideouts.
As investigations unfold, residents fear more attacks in Oyo’s rural zones.
President Bola Tinubu faces mounting pressure to bolster national security amid this latest outrage.
