The Oyo State Police Command has recorded a major breakthrough in the investigation of the deadly attack on Old Oyo National Park, Oloka area, which claimed five lives, with the arrest of seven suspects, including the alleged mastermind.
The Command’s spokesperson, DSP Olayinka Alayande, disclosed in a statement that the arrests were made through coordinated operations by combined security forces.
The attack occurred on January 6, 2026, around 9 p.m., when armed bandits on motorcycles, wielding sophisticated firearms, stormed the National Park office and violently assaulted forest rangers and staff, resulting in five fatalities.
In response, the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Femi Haruna, deployed operational assets and ordered an intensive, intelligence-driven investigation. This led to the initial arrest of three suspects—Mohammed Dangi (52), Abubakar Abdullahi, and Sheu Usman—and subsequently, four more, including the alleged ringleader, from various hideouts across the country. The later arrests, made on January 25, 2026, included Toro Malami (43), Usman Alhaji Ummaru, Laolo Muhammadu (22), and Usman Alhaji Isah (32).
According to DSP Alayande, the suspects confessed to orchestrating the attack to free imprisoned members of their gang from forest guard custody. They also provided actionable intelligence to help track other fleeing members of the syndicate.
The Oyo State Police Command reassured residents of its commitment to protecting lives and property, urging the public to avoid spreading unverified information. The Command also commended Governor Seyi Makinde for his support and the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, for his strategic guidance in strengthening the state’s security architecture.