Residents of Oloka village in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State have continued to flee the community following a deadly bandit attack on the National Park Service office earlier this week, despite the deployment of heavy security personnel.
Community members say fear, shock, and psychological trauma persist after suspected bandits struck on Tuesday, January 6, leaving at least five forest guards dead and forcing villagers to run for safety. Many houses remain locked, streets are largely deserted, and both commercial and social activities have come to a standstill.
A resident, who spoke anonymously, described Oloka as virtually deserted, noting that many villagers had taken refuge in neighbouring communities, while those who remained did so largely because of the presence of security operatives.
Residents said they were uncertain about resuming normal life, explaining that the attack had disrupted livelihoods and shattered their sense of safety. They called on the state government and security agencies to establish permanent security posts in the area to prevent a repeat of such incidents.
Chairman of Orire Local Government Area, Micheal Alabi, said authorities were taking firm steps to restore peace, adding that efforts were underway to strengthen and restructure the area’s security architecture.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Police Command on Wednesday, January 7, recovered the bodies of the five forest rangers killed in the attack. Commissioner of Police, Femi Haruna, led an on-the-spot assessment alongside other security chiefs and the Commandant of the National Forest Rangers.
To ease tension and forestall further unrest, the police commissioner ordered the deployment of tactical units, including Mobile Police officers and explosive ordnance teams.
Police spokesperson, Ayanlade Olayinka, disclosed that preliminary investigations revealed that about 12 attackers emerged from nearby bushes, opened fire on the Rangers’ office, and fled the scene. He added that evidence gathered so far was assisting ongoing efforts to track down and arrest those responsible.
Olayinka emphasized that the assault targeted only the National Forest Rangers’ office and that swift police action prevented the violence from spreading into the wider community.