Governor Seyi Makinde has confirmed that five National Park Service Forest Guard officers were killed in an attack by suspected bandits at the National Park Office in Oloka Village.

In a statement personally issued on Wednesday, the governor described the incident as a criminal attack and mourned the loss of the officers, who were killed while performing their official duties.

“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. This is a devastating loss of the lives of personnel in the course of carrying out their lawful duties. May their souls rest in peace,” Governor Makinde wrote on his X handle.

Preliminary investigations by security agencies suggest the attack was a cross-border operation carried out by armed bandits. Governor Makinde assured that security forces are coordinating efforts to address the incident and appealed to residents to assist with intelligence gathering.

He further urged calm among residents of Oriire Local Government Area and other border communities, stating that additional security personnel have been deployed.

“Let me appeal to residents of Oyo State, especially those in Oriire LGA and other LGAs along our borders, to remain calm as the security agencies have restored normalcy and deployed more personnel to the area. Our administration will leave no stone unturned to respond decisively to prevent a recurrence of such attacks,” he said.

The attack has intensified security concerns in border communities, where authorities have previously warned of incursions by armed groups exploiting forest corridors. Reports of the killings earlier in the day had caused widespread apprehension before the governor’s confirmation.