Several Injured as Suspected Bandits Ambush Sunday Igboho’s Security Team in Oyo Forest

Several members of a private security outfit linked to Yoruba Nation campaigner, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, were reportedly injured after suspected cross-border bandits ambushed them during an operation inside the Old Oyo National Park in Oyo State.

The incident reportedly occurred while operatives of Iru Ekun, a private security outfit associated with Igboho, were conducting an operation to track and dislodge suspected kidnappers and other armed criminals believed to be operating within the expansive forest reserve.

According to sources familiar with the operation, the security team deployed surveillance drones to identify suspected criminal hideouts and monitor the movements of armed groups before advancing into the area.

However, the mission reportedly turned violent when the operatives came under attack from heavily armed men believed to be members of cross-border criminal networks.

The sources said the suspected bandits opened fire on the advancing security personnel, triggering a fierce gun battle deep inside the forest.

Several members of the Iru Ekun team were reportedly wounded during the exchange. However, the exact number of injured operatives had not been officially confirmed as of the time of filing this report.

The incident has heightened concerns over the activities of suspected kidnappers, bandits and other armed groups operating within forests and remote communities across parts of the South-West.

It comes amid renewed calls for stronger security measures following recent incidents of abductions and violent attacks in parts of Oyo State and neighbouring areas.

Efforts to obtain an official reaction from the Oyo State Police Command were unsuccessful, as calls placed to the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, were not answered as of the time of filing this report.

There was also no immediate statement from Sunday Igboho or the management of the Iru Ekun security outfit regarding the operation or the condition of the injured personnel.

Security authorities are yet to provide official details on the incident, while it remains unclear whether any of the suspected bandits were killed or arrested during the confrontation.