OYO STATE, NIGERIA — Several members of the Iru Ekun security outfit, a private security network linked to Yoruba nation agitator Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, were reportedly injured following an ambush by suspected bandits inside the Old Oyo National Park.
According to reports, the operatives were carrying out a security operation aimed at tracking down suspected kidnappers and criminal elements believed to be hiding within the expansive forest reserve when they came under heavy attack.
Sources familiar with the operation disclosed that the team had deployed surveillance drones to gather intelligence and identify suspected hideouts before advancing into the area. However, the mission reportedly took a dangerous turn when heavily armed gunmen launched a surprise attack, resulting in a fierce gun battle.
Witnesses and security sources said the exchange of gunfire lasted for an extended period, with several members of the security outfit sustaining varying degrees of injuries. The exact number of those wounded has not been officially confirmed.
The attackers are believed to be part of criminal groups operating within the forest corridor, an area that has repeatedly been linked to cases of kidnapping, banditry, and other violent crimes in recent years.
The Old Oyo National Park, which stretches across parts of Oyo and Kwara states, has long been identified as a challenging terrain for security agencies due to its vast size and dense vegetation, making it an attractive hideout for criminal elements.
