The Oyo State Police Command has arrested seven suspected members of a notorious banditry gang linked to the January 6, 2026 attack on the Old Oyo National Park, which left five people dead and several others injured.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, disclosed on Saturday that the suspects include the alleged mastermind and leader of the 10-man gang that carried out the late-night raid on forest rangers and other park personnel in the Oloka area of Orire Local Government Area.
According to the police, the attackers arrived in large numbers on motorcycles at about 9pm, wielding sophisticated firearms, and opened fire on officials of the National Park Service, leading to multiple fatalities and injuries.
In the aftermath of the attack, the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Mr Femi Haruna, ordered the immediate deployment of tactical assets to the area and directed the Command Monitoring Unit to take over investigations, triggering what the police described as an intensive, intelligence-driven manhunt across several locations.
Three suspects Mohammed Dangi (52), Abubakar Abdullahi and Sheu Usman — were initially arrested and reportedly confessed to participating in the attack.
The suspects told investigators that 10 gang members, riding on five motorcycles, carried out the operation.
Police investigations further revealed that the primary objective of the raid was to forcibly free members of the gang earlier arrested by forest guards for criminal activities within the National Park and surrounding communities — a mission the attackers were said to have achieved during the assault.
Acting on fresh intelligence, operatives later arrested four additional suspects on January 25. They were identified as Toro Malami (43), Usman Alhaji Ummaru, Laolo Muhammadu (22) and Usman Alhaji Isah (32).
Olayinka said the suspects, including the alleged gang leader, were providing “credible and actionable intelligence” that had strengthened ongoing efforts to track down other fleeing members of the syndicate.
He added that operatives of the Command Monitoring Unit, working with other security agencies, had intensified operations to apprehend the remaining suspects and dismantle the criminal network behind the deadly attack.
The command reassured residents of its commitment to protecting lives and property across the state, urging the public to avoid spreading unverified information capable of causing panic.
It also acknowledged the support of Governor Seyi Makinde and the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, for what it described as their leadership and backing, which contributed to the operational success.
“The Oyo State Police Command will not allow the state to serve as a safe haven for criminal elements. We remain resolute in confronting and dismantling all forms of criminality,” the statement added.
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