BREAKING: BANDITS AMBUSH SUNDAY IGBOHO’S SECURITY TEAM DURING FOREST OPERATION IN OYO, SEVERAL INJURED

BANDITS AMBUSH SUNDAY IGBOHO’S SECURITY TEAM DURING FOREST OPERATION IN OYO, SEVERAL INJURED

A security operation linked to Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, reportedly came under heavy attack after suspected armed bandits ambushed members of his private security outfit during a mission inside the Old Oyo National Park in Oyo State.

According to information gathered, the incident occurred while operatives attached to Igboho’s security team, known as Iru Ekun, were carrying out a forest operation aimed at tracking down suspected kidnappers and armed groups believed to be operating within the expansive reserve.

Sources familiar with the operation said the security team had deployed drone technology to gather intelligence and identify suspected criminal hideouts before advancing deeper into the forest.

The situation reportedly escalated when the operatives encountered heavily armed individuals suspected to be members of cross-border criminal networks operating within the area.

Witness accounts indicate that the armed men opened fire on the advancing security team, triggering a fierce gun battle inside the forest.

Several members of the Iru Ekun squad were reportedly injured during the exchange, although the exact number of casualties has not been officially confirmed as of the time of reporting.

The incident has renewed concerns over increasing security threats linked to criminal groups operating within forest regions and remote communities across parts of Southwest Nigeria.

Speaking on the development, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde said preliminary security findings suggested that the attackers were suspected cross-border bandits.

According to the governor, security agencies have commenced investigations into the attack and are working to identify those responsible while intensifying efforts to curb criminal activities within the affected region.

The reported operation formed part of broader efforts aimed at tackling kidnapping, banditry, and violent crimes around the Old Oyo National Park, an area security authorities have repeatedly identified as vulnerable to criminal activity in recent years.

Residents of communities surrounding the park have since called for stronger collaboration between conventional security agencies and local vigilante groups to strengthen surveillance and improve safety across the area.

Security analysts say the reported use of drone surveillance during the operation highlights a growing shift toward intelligence-driven security strategies, particularly in difficult terrains where armed criminal groups often establish hidden camps.

The latest confrontation further underscores ongoing security challenges facing parts of Nigeria, especially in forest corridors increasingly linked to kidnapping and armed criminal activities.