Two weeks after the fatal raid on Old Oyo National Park, the Oyo State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of seven members of the 10-man armed gang allegedly behind the January 6, 2026 assault. The attack on forest rangers in the Oloka area tragically claimed five lives, and those currently in custody include the group’s suspected mastermind.
Confirming the major breakthrough on Saturday, Police Spokesperson DSP Ayanlade Olayinka revealed that the gang’s alleged mastermind and ringleader are now behind bars. The duo was part of the 10-man squad that unleashed terror in Orire’s Oloka area earlier this month, an attack the command described as a pivotal point in its ongoing crackdown on banditry.
“As earlier reported, the incident occurred on 6th January, 2026, at about 2100 hours, when the armed bandits, who reportedly arrived in large numbers on motorcycles and were armed with sophisticated firearms, invaded the Old Oyo National Park office and launched a violent attack on forest rangers and other personnel. The attack tragically resulted in the death of five (5) persons,” he said.
Following the deadly raid, Police Commissioner Sonubi Ayodele Hamzat flooded the area with operational reinforcements. By handing the reins of the investigation to the elite Command Monitoring Unit, Hamzat signaled a ‘zero-tolerance’ stance against the bandits responsible for the January 6 massacre.
“This directive marked the commencement of an intensive, intelligence-driven operation, which led to the initial arrest of three (3) suspects, followed by the subsequent arrest of four (4) additional suspects,” Olayinka said.
However, the three suspects first arrested were identified as Mohammed Dangi, 52; Abubakar Abdullahi; and Sheu Usman.
“During sustained interrogation, the suspects confessed to the crime and provided detailed accounts of how ten (10) members of their armed banditry group, riding on five motorcycles, carried out the attack,” he said.
“Crucially, investigations revealed that the primary intention of the assailants was to forcefully free members of their armed banditry syndicate who had earlier been arrested and were in the custody of forest guards… which they successfully did during the attack.”
DSP Olayinka further stated that intelligence-led operations on January 25 led to the apprehension of four more suspects. They were identified as Toro Malami (43), Usman Alhaji Ummaru, Laolo Muhammadu (22), and Usman Alhaji Isah (32).
The police spokesperson noted that the detainees are providing ‘credible and actionable intelligence’ to assist in the manhunt for the remaining gang members”.
“Operatives of the Command Monitoring Unit, in collaboration with other security agencies, are intensifying efforts to ensure that all remaining suspects are tracked down and brought to justice,” he said.
Reaffirming the Command’s commitment to security, he struck a dual chord of assurance and warning: while the law-abiding public is safe, those shielding fugitives will face the full weight of the law.
“The Oyo State Police Command states unequivocally that Oyo State will never be allowed to serve as a safe haven for criminal elements”.
