Oyo State Police Command has recovered the remains of five Forest Rangers killed at the National Park Service Office, Oloka, Orire Local Government Area.
The remains, according to the Command’s Spokesman, Ayanlade Olayinka, were recovered on Wednesday while the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Police Command, CP Femi Haruna led other security chiefs for an on-the spot assessment of the scene.
The CP, according to reports, was accompanied by heads of sister security agencies and the Commandant of the National Forest Rangers.
The police also said tactical teams including Mobile Police Force officer of the NPF and EOD have been deployed to the affected area, on the orders of the CP to prevent further breakdown of law and order.
Painting a picture of how the crime was committed, Olayinka said preliminary reports indicate that the attackers, numbering about 12, emerged from adjoining bushes, opened sporadic gunfire on the Rangers’ Office and fled the scene.
He said investigation has commenced and credible evidence already yielding promising leads to aid the identification, arrest, and prosecution of those responsible.
Olayinka said contrary to some media reports, the attack was solely directed at the National Forest Rangers’ Office but the swift, proactive deployment of police personnel prevented any further escalation in the surrounding community.
He also pointed out that the site has been forensically swept to collect all available evidence.
He said during the visit of the CP to assess the security situation of the facility, he also held an interactive session with community leaders of Oloka community, where he expressed deep condolences over the loss of lives and reassured them of the unwavering commitment of the Nigeria Police Force, in collaboration with other security agencies, to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.
He noted that immediately upon receiving information about the attack, the CP deployed all available operatives and operational assets to the area, preventing further attack by the assailants and averting a potential breakdown of law and order.
