Gunmen have reportedly attacked the Old Oyo National Park, located in the Oke Ogun geopolitical zone of Oyo State, triggering a security response from the police and other agencies.
According to reports, the assailants, whose identities remain unknown, opened fire during the attack, leading to the death of an unspecified number of people. As of Wednesday afternoon, the exact casualty figure had not been officially confirmed.
The Public Relations Officer of the Oyo State Police Command, Olayinka Ayanlade, confirmed the incident, stating that security forces had been mobilised to the area to restore order and prevent further violence.
“Yes, there was an attack by yet to be identified men against the men of the national park,” Ayanlade said in a statement sent to journalists on Wednesday. “The Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Police Command, and other service chiefs are currently on their way to the location.”
He added that the Commissioner of Police, CP Femi Haruna, had already ordered the deployment of tactical teams, officers of the Mobile Police Force, and operatives of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit to the affected area.
“The deployment is to prevent further breakdown of law and order,” the police spokesperson said.
The Old Oyo National Park, one of Nigeria’s major conservation and tourism sites, is located across parts of Oyo State and is known for its vast forest reserves, wildlife and historical relics of the old Oyo Empire. In recent years, however, the park and surrounding areas have faced growing security challenges, including reports of illegal mining, banditry and armed criminal activity.
Residents of communities around the park have repeatedly raised concerns over insecurity in the Oke Ogun axis, calling for increased security presence to protect lives, livelihoods and critical national assets. Wednesday’s attack is expected to heighten those concerns, particularly as details surrounding the motive and perpetrators of the shooting remain unclear.
Security sources said further updates would be provided once officers on the ground assess the situation and investigations commence. Authorities have urged members of the public to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies as operations continue in the area.
As at the time of filing this report, no group had claimed responsibility for the attack, and the police had not disclosed whether any arrests had been made.
