Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has assured residents that those responsible for the recent attack on the National Park Office in Oloka Village, which led to the killing of five forest guards, will be apprehended and brought to justice.
The governor condemned the attack and appealed for calm while security agencies continue investigations to unravel the perpetrators behind what he described as a “dastardly act.”
In a statement shared on his official Facebook page, Makinde said:
“Earlier today, there was a criminal attack by bandits at the National Park Office, Oloka Village, which resulted in the death of five National Park Service Forest Guard officers. This is a devastating loss of lives of personnel in the course of carrying out their lawful duties. May their souls rest in peace.”
The governor noted that preliminary findings by security agencies suggest the incident was a cross-border attack carried out by bandits.
He added that security agencies are working collaboratively to address the situation and urged residents of the affected communities to cooperate by providing useful intelligence.
“The security agencies are already working together to address this incident and are seeking the support of residents in the area to cooperate with them in their intelligence gathering,” Makinde said.
Governor Makinde further appealed to residents of Oriire Local Government Area and other border communities to remain calm, assuring them that normalcy has been restored and additional security personnel have been deployed to the area.
“Our administration will leave no stone unturned in responding decisively to prevent a recurrence of such attacks,” he assured.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Police Command confirmed that the attackers, numbering about 12, emerged from nearby bushes, opened sporadic gunfire on the forest rangers’ office, and fled the scene.
The police clarified that, contrary to some media reports, the attack was solely directed at the forest rangers’ office and did not spread to surrounding communities.
According to the police, the remains of the slain officers have been deposited, while the scene was forensically examined to gather evidence.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Femi Haruna, during an on-the-spot security assessment, disclosed that the Area Commander, Divisional Police Officer of Ikoyi Division, tactical teams, and other operatives have been deployed to secure the area and track down the assailants.
“The Oyo State Police Command reiterates its unwavering commitment to the protection of lives and property across the state and assures the public that all necessary measures are being taken to ensure the swift apprehension and prosecution of the suspects,” the CP said.
