Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has appealed for calm among residents following a deadly attack by gunmen on the National Park Service office in Oloka Village, Oriire Local Government Area, which claimed the lives of five forest guard officers.

The governor, in a statement issued on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Media, confirmed that the attack occurred on Tuesday night and described the incident as a tragic and devastating loss for the state.

“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,” the statement read.

Makinde expressed deep condolences to the families of the slain officers and offered prayers for the repose of their souls, noting that the sacrifice of the victims would not be forgotten.

According to preliminary findings by security agencies, the attack was identified as a cross-border operation carried out by bandits. The governor disclosed that security agencies were already working in close collaboration to contain the situation and prevent further violence.

He urged residents of the affected communities to support ongoing security operations by providing timely and credible intelligence, stressing that community cooperation remains critical in addressing security threats.

Makinde further called on residents of Oriire Local Government Area and other border communities in Oyo State to remain calm, assuring them that normalcy had been restored. He added that additional security personnel had been deployed to the area to strengthen surveillance and response.

Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to safety, the governor said decisive measures would be taken to forestall a recurrence of such attacks and to enhance security across vulnerable areas of the state.

The attack reportedly took place at about 9pm on Tuesday, January 6, when armed men stormed the National Park Service office and opened fire on officers on duty, leaving five dead and prompting heightened security operations in the area.